The 1983 musical based on the life of singer Doris Troy has book and lyrics by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro, with original music by Wesley Naylor. Wydro also directs the production. Gregory M. Kelly is music director.

Mama, I Want To Sing: The Next Generation plays Saturday afternoons. The musical tells the story of a talented young gospel singer who embraces secular music despite the strong objections of her mother.

The Next Generation cast includes Bettina Pennon as Mama, Sandra Huff as Sister Carrie, Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson as Doris Winter, Tyrone Flowers as Reverend Winters and Elijiah A. Lewis as Minister of Music.

The production also features young performers from the Gospel for Teens program, which is part of the Mama Foundation for the Arts and Vy's Higginsen's School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts in Harlem.

Mama, I Want To Sing played for eight years Off-Broadway as well as in London’s West End plus a three-year tour across the USA, seven tours throughout Japan and multiple appearances in the Caribbean, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. The Dempsey Theater is located at 127 W. 127th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Malcolm X Boulevards. For more information and tickets, visit www.mamafoundation.org.