Written by and starring Broadway vet Vanessa Shaw, the production will run through May 25 with an official opening May 16. Jeffrey Thompson directs.
Ivan Thomas (who has performed internationally as singer, actor, and classical pianist) and Mark E. Lang (a Royal Shakespeare Company-trained actor who directs and acts with The Laughing Stock Company) complete the cast.
Marian Anderson, according to press notes, "explores the real flesh and blood woman behind the icon, telling the story of a reluctant American Heroine whose voice was her weapon against racism of the time. View the life of Marian Anderson from her youth to her historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in April 1939."
The production features set and costume design by Lee Bennett and lighting design by Paul Miller. Producers are Jeff Britton, with Candela Entertainment, Curb Gardner and Cynthia Newport.
Welcome Home, Marian Anderson was recently seen at Bristol Riverside Theatre outside Philadelphia — the late Anderson's hometown — in January. Shaw, whose Broadway credits include Camelot and Timbuktu, has received solid reviews for her portrayal of the powerful historical figure, who was famously denied the chance to sing at a DAR event.
Show times are Tuesday–Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.
St. Luke's Theatre is located in Manhattan at 308 West 46th Street. Tickets, priced $18, are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.