Talvin Wilks directs the 90-minute intermissionless piece, to begin performances March 1 and open March 21 for a run slated through April 10.
Eyewitness Blues is a "mix of jazz, flamenco, blues, and poetry" that centers on the story of a "hard-luck horn player from the ghetto" (played by Sapp) and the Muse (Mildred Ruiz) who unfolds his life before him.
Ruiz and Sapp appeared in NYTW's 2001 production of Slanguage and have now teamed with arrangers/composers Carlos Pimentel, Paul Thompson and Antoine Drye. Thompson and Drye provide live musical accompaniment.
Director Wilks has previously staged Eyewitness Blues for the New WORLD Theater as well as Sekou Sundiata's UDU (651Arts/BAM), No Black Male Show (Joe's Pub), Carl Hancock Rux's Pagan Operetta (The Kitchen), Leslie Lee's Legends (St. Louis Black Repertory Company) and the Obie Award and AUDELCO Award-winning The Shaneequa Chronicles by Stephanie Berry (Ensemble Studio Theatre).
The design team for Eyewitness Blues is by Narelle Sissons (scenic), Emilio Sosa (costumes), Heather Carson (lighting) with Darron L West and Bray Poor (sound). Movement is provided by Jaime Coronado and Adesola Osakalumi. Antonia Gianino serves as the production stage manager. Tickets to Eyewitness Blues at New York Theatre Workshop, 79 East 4th Street, (between Second Avenue and Bowery), can be purchased by calling (212) 239-6200. For more information, visit www.nytw.org.