Storyville, which features a book by Ed Bullins and music and lyrics by Mildred Kayden, officially opens July 23 and will continue performances through Aug. 17. 

Directed by Bill Castellino, the cast features two-time Tony Award nominee Ernestine Jackson, D.C. Anderson, Cory Bretsch, Karen Burthwright, Kyle Robert Carter, Demeka Hayes, Michael Leonard James, Leajato Robinson, Clifton Samuels, Christopher Spaulding, Carl Wallnau, Debra Walton, NaTasha Yvette Williams and Zakiya Young.

"New Orleans, 1917: Something happened that changed the American Songbook forever," press notes state. "The time, Mardi Gras; the place, Storyville — two blocks from the French Quarter. Saloons, gambling joints and brothels set the scene for a new kind of music. Some say it was the beginning of jazz. People fell in love, a world disappeared and the music moved upriver."

The Storyville creative team includes James Morgan (set), Nicole Wee (costumes), Michael Gottlieb (lights) and Janie Bullard (sound). The production also features choreography by Mercedes Ellington and music direction by William Foster McDaniel, and the production stage manager is Elis Arroyo.

More information is available by visiting yorktheatre.org.