Terence Blanchard Will Compose Music for Motherf**ker with the Hat, Starring Chris Rock

By Andrew Gans
01 Mar 2011

Chris Rock
Chris Rock

Five-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard will compose original music for Stephen Adly Guirgis' star-filled Motherf**ker with the Hat, which begins performances March 15 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

The play, which is described as "a new high-octane, verbal cage match about love, fidelity, and misplaced haberdashery," will officially open April 11.

The cast boasts the talents of Bobby Cannavale (Jackie), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Veronica), Annabella Sciorra (Victoria), Yul Vazquez (Cousin Julio) and comic Chris Rock (Ralph D.); the latter will be making his Broadway debut.

Anna D. Shapiro directs the limited 15-week run.

Blanchard has established himself as one of the most influential jazz musicians and composers of his generation.  He is a five-time Grammy Award winner who often finds himself touring with his band and jazz giants Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and the rap artist Common.  The music for Motherf**ker with the Hat will mark Blanchard’s debut on Broadway. He is also working on his first opera.

Here's how the play is described in production notes: "Jackie and Veronica have been in love since the 8th grade. But now, Jackie is on parole and living clean and sober under the guidance of his sponsor, Ralph D, while still living and loving with his volatile soul mate Veronica who is fiercely loving, but far from sober. Still, their love is pure. And true. Nothing can come between them — except a hat."

Designing the production are scenic designer Todd Rosenthal, costume designer Mimi O'Donnell and lighting designer Donald Holder.

Guirgis' plays include Jesus Hopped the A Train, Little Flower Of East Orange, In Arabia We'd All Be Kings, Our Lady Of 121st Street, Den Of Thieves and Dominica The Fat Ugly Ho.

The play will be produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Public Theater Productions, Inc. (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Joey Parnes), LAByrinth Theater Company, Fabula Media Partners LLC, Jean Doumanian, Ruth Hendel, Carl Moellenberg, Jon B. Platt.

The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre is located at 236 W. 45th Street; box-office hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 AM-8 PM.

Tickets are also available by visiting Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. For more information visit www.TheMFwiththeHat.com.