The latest play from black touring show dynamo, David E. Talbert, Mr. Right Now, will begin its national tour at New York's Beacon Theatre, Jan. 19-31.
Starring in the production are Laurence-Hilton Jacobs and Karen Clark Sheard. Though known primarily from television's "Welcome Back Kotter" as Freddy "Boom Boom" Washington, Jacobs starred in 1979's I Love My Wife on Broadway as well as in the Los Angeles premiere of Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. Other notable television credits include playing Joseph Jackson in the mini-series "The Jacksons: An American Dream" and guest spots on "Moesha," "Martin," and "Cooley High."
Clark-Sheard, playing opposite Jacobs, is a three-time Grammy nominee with her sisters, the gospel group, The Clark Sisters. Recently leaving the group for a solo career, Clark-Sheard's first solo album, "Finally Karen," garnered her the 1998 Our Lady of Soul Award.
In a recent interview with PBOL, Talbert described Mr. Right Now as a "relationship musical. A musical about a single woman who, being lonely, prays to God for someone. God tells her to wait for Mr. Right, she doesn't and goes with the first person she finds."
If the title alone didn't indicate what kind of man she finds, Talbert's subtitle, "The Microwaveable Man" might. As Talbert puts it, "If you want food cooked right, you cook it on a stove. If you don't want to wait -- it's the microwave." Other plays by Talbert include: Tellin ' it Like it 'Tiz, Lawd Ha' Mercy, and He Say, She Say, But What Does God Say?, which featured gospel star Kirk Franklin and turned into the UPN sitcom, "Good News."
After closing shop at the Beacon, Mr. Right Now will play the following tour dates:
Feb. 4-7, 1999 Atlanta's Civic Theatre
Feb. 9-14, Chicago's Chicago Theatre
Feb. 16-28, Philadelphia's Merriam Theatre
March 2-7, Miami's Gusman Theatre
March 9 - 13, Dallas' Music Hall
March 16 - 21, Houston's Ariel Theatre
April 13-30, 1999 Los Angeles (Theatre T.B.A.)
For tickets ($19.50-$27.50) or more information on Mr. Right Now, starring Laurence-Hilton Jacobs and Karen Clark-Sheard at N.Y.'s Beacon Theatre, call (212) 307-7171.
-- By Sean McGrath
