Celebrity Takeover
John Legend To Produce “Turn Me Loose” Starring Scandal’s Joe Morton
Shondaland is letting us borrow one of our favorites in May. Joe Morton who plays Rowan Pope/ Command on ABC’s hit, Scandal, is coming back to the stage in Turn Me Loose.
Written by Gretchen Law, directed by John Gould Rubin, and produced by John Legend, “Turn Me Loose” will start previews May 3rd and is set to open May 19 at the Westside Theater.
Morton brings to life the story of Dick Gregory and explores his existence at the intersection of celebrity and activist.
On the timeliness and relevance of bringing the story of this legend to stage, Legend comments:
People like Dick Gregory, Paul Robeson, Harry Belafonte and Nina Simone show me what the definition of an artist is – it isn’t just to make art but to speak truth to what’s happening, speak beauty into the world, speak love into the world and also get involved.
And speak truth, Dick Gregory has. Gregory first hit the scene in the 60s and he’s always had a way of simultaneously reading people for filth and taking a political stance, that shows you he is a proud member of #WokeAsHell. He’s equal part comedian and civil rights activist, and at 83, he’s still politicking and educating the masses.
Legend promises audiences will “laugh, have a great time, be empowered, and turned loose.” If anything will be turned loose, it’s me when I hear the new song the Oscar winner wrote for the show. #WERK
Joe Morton may be best known for portraying Olivia Pope’s father on Scandal. But like I said, he’s been #BroadwayBlack. He was Tony nominated for his work in Raisin. Additional credits include: Art, Honky Tonk Nights, Oh, Brother!, Tricks, and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
To get your tickets click HERE.
Show me the money! Cuba Gooding Jr. (A Trip to Bountiful) returns to Broadway’s ‘Chicago.’
Cuba Gooding Jr. in a promotional photo as Billy Flynn.
Oscar Winner and Broadway alumni, Cuba Gooding Jr., has returned to Broadway. Cuba has returned to ‘Chicago’ through February 10th. After a previous Broadway and West End run in the show, Cuba is back playing Billy Flynn. Now taking on the role for the third time, Cuba is back and better than Ever.
“This is the first time I’ve sang professionally, period. This is my first musical” Cuba said, “The hardest thing I’ve ever done physically is singing and dancing, eight shows a week, six days a week.”
The Oscar winner returned to the Ambassador Theatre on January 7th to do a month-long run in the show. He’d previously spent six weeks in the role in October of 2018 and before that he’d opened the show’s west end revival. Cuba is the latest in the line of stars to join the Broadway company of Chicago. Cuba is joining the likes of Todrick Hall, Tony Yazbeck, Usher Raymond, and Wayne Brady as one of the few stars to play Billy Flynn on Broadway. Cuba is ready to bring the “razzle dazzle” to the Ambassador Theatre, eight shows a week, and we’re prepared to see him hit his mark and take the stage.
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