Producer Eric Krebs told Playbill On-Line audiences have been going wild for Genovis Albright's conjuring of beloved jazz-and-blues-writer Brown's songs.
Albright sings and plays piano and is accompanied by a jazz trio. The new musical revue is directed by Stephen Henderson and conceived and produced by Eric Krebs (Electra, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, Little Ham).
Performances continue to Aug. 30 at the Studio Theater in the Houseman, 450 W. 42nd Street.
Comprised of some 20 songs as well as poetry and commentary, Serenade the World: The Music and Words of Oscar Brown, Jr "ranges from hilarious tunes such as 'Signifying Monkey' and 'But I Was Cool.' to songs of political commentary ('Forty Acres and a Mule') to the spiritual melodies of 'Joy' and 'Column of Birds,'" according to the announcement.
Oscar Brown, Jr. is a 76-year-old Chicago artist and activist, a legendary rhythm & blues jazz singer who has composed several hundred songs and recorded 11 albums. He received two Emmy Awards for a television special, and he hosted the PBS series "From Jump Street: The Story of Black Music." He hosted the first Black radio news show in the country, collaborated with Max Roach on "Freedom Now Suite," and composed, wrote and co-directed the 1969 Broadway musical, Buck White, with Muhammad Ali. Genovis Albright is a recording artist who has performed throughout Europe and the U.S. His credits include stage productions of Good Time Blues, The Time of Your Life and he is the composer of several musicals.
Krebs' production of It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues was nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical. He is chairman of the Rosetta LeNoire Amas Musical Theatre, a not-for profit theatre dedicated to the training of "city kids" in the performing arts and the creation of new musicals for multi-ethnic casts.
The performance schedule for Serenade The World: The Music and Words of Oscar Brown, Jr. is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8 PM, July 29 through Aug. 30. All tickets are priced at $30 and can be purchased by calling (212) 239-6200. Groups may call (212) 967-7079.
