New Musical Venice, Starring Leslie Odom, Jr., Haaz Sleiman and Jennifer Damiano, Begins Public Theater Run May 28 | Playbill

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News New Musical Venice, Starring Leslie Odom, Jr., Haaz Sleiman and Jennifer Damiano, Begins Public Theater Run May 28 Leslie Odom, Jr. and Haaz Sleiman co-star in the New York premiere of the new rock and hip-hop musical Venice, which begins Off-Broadway previews May 28 at the Public Theater.

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Jennifer Damiano

The musical has a book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax and lyrics by Sax and Rosen with additional music by Curtis Moore. Rosen and Clay previously collaborated on the one-man hip-hop work Clay, which was seen Off-Broadway at LCT3 in 2008.

Rosen also directs the Public LAB production that has choreography by Chase Brock (Spider-Man). Venice officially opens June 13 for a run through June 23.

The Public has been developing the musical over the past year and a half. Venice debuted in early 2010 at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, where Rosen is artistic director. The co-production arrived at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles that fall, where critics were encouraging.

Odom, Jr. (Leap of Faith) and Sleiman (Food and Fadwa) co-star as brothers Markos Monroe and Venice Monroe, respectively, in a cast that also features Tony Award nominee Jennifer Damiano (Next to Normal) as Willow Turner, Claybourne Elder (Road Show) as Michael Victor, Matt Sax as the Clown, Uzo Aduba (Godspell) as Anna Monroe, Jonathan-David (Les Misérables) as Theodore Westbrook, Victoria Platt (Jelly's Last Jam) as Emilia Monroe and Angela Polk (Crowns) with Hailey Daisy, and Emilee Dupre, Semhar Ghebremichael, Devin Roberts and Manuel Stark in the ensemble.

The production has scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting design by Jason Lyons, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, projection design by Jason H. Thompson and musical direction by Jim Abbott. According to the Public, "An electrifying new musical, Venice will ignite the stage with a fusion of musical styles from hip-hop and rock to soaring anthems of love and hope, tracing a young man's rise as he fights for what's right against a backdrop of deceit and sibling betrayal. Part epic romance, part political tale, Venice will transport you to a fallen city in the not-so-distant future where revolution is in the air, political structures are crumbling, and only the children of the city's fallen heroes can change the course of history."

Rosen is a playwright, director and producer. His original plays and musicals include Winesburg, Ohio, for which he wrote the book and lyrics and directed (Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work, and five Barrymore Awards including Best Musical), Dream Boy (Jeff Award for Best Direction and Production), Wedding Play, Dancer from the Dance, Whitman and Undone. He also staged the world premiere of A Christmas Story: The Musical at KC Rep and in a revised production at the 5th Avenue Theatre.

Sax won a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Solo Performance for Clay in its presentation by Lookingglass Theatre and About Face Theatre. Clay was also presented Off-Broadway by Lincoln Center Theater; it received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations.

Moore composed the score for Timon of Athens at The Public, and recently returned from conducting and performing in Sam Mendes' production of Richard III, starring Kevin Spacey, for the Bridge Project. He has also penned the musicals Triangle, Stagecoach Mary and The Bus To Buenos Aires. He composed and performed songs in the film "Palindromes" and composed the score for "Clear Blue Tuesday."

For tickets phone (212) 967-7555 or visit PublicTheater. The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.

 
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