Following Sold-Out Acclaimed Engagement in Chicago
AMAZING GRACE
To Play Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre (261 West 41st Street)
Previews Begin Thursday, June 25
For Thursday, July 16 Opening Night
Principal Casting & Creative Team Announced
Amazing Grace, a new musical, will play Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre (261 West 41st Street) with performances beginning Thursday, June 25 for a Thursday, July 16 opening night.
The new musical features music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, directed by Gabriel Barre (Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies).
The cast for Amazing Grace on Broadway will include members of the show’s acclaimed, sold-out world premiere in Chicago: Tony Award nominee Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar), Erin Mackey (NY Philharmonic's concert production of Sweeney Todd, Chaplin), Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper (Act One, The Life), Chris Hoch (Matilda, Far From Heaven), Stanley Bahorek (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Big River), Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!, Crowns), Laiona Michelle (The Book of Mormon national tour), Rachael Ferrera (Broadway debut), and Elizabeth Ward Land (Scandalous, The Green Heart).
Additional casting for the 33-member company of Amazing Grace will be announced in the coming weeks.
Amazing Grace is based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song. A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change that gave birth to the abolitionist movement.
John Newton (Tony Award nominee Josh Young), a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father – a slave trader – and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart (Erin Mackey). An unforgettable musical saga, Amazing Grace captures the spirit of history’s sweetest and most powerful sound: freedom.
Additional members of the creative team include Eugene Lee and Edward Pierce (scenic design), Toni-Leslie James (costume design), Ken Billington and Paul Miller (lighting design), Jon Weston (sound design), Robert –Charles Vallance (hair design), David Leong (fight and military movement), Gillian Lane-Plescia (dialect coach), Kenny Seymour (orchestrations), Michael Keller (music coordinator), and Joseph Church (music director, arranger, incidental music).
Amazing Grace is produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and Alexander Rankin.
The production premiered last October in Chicago and was embraced by theatre critics and played to sold out houses.
“Hearing ‘Amazing Grace’ sung by this cast makes for an undeniably stirring theatrical moment; it brought tears to my eyes. Amazing Grace features stirring, romantic music and lyrics by Smith with catchy, accessible melodies and is vividly staged by director Gabriel Barre sending characters up and down masts.”
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“A stirring musical. An epic romance. Artfully produced on the lavish scale of Les Mis. Amazing Grace is a soaring piece of work full of well-crafted lyrics and character-driven melodies”
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“Amazing Grace is nothing short of amazing!”
- Hank Mendheim, Windy City Live ABC-TV
“This emotional and gripping story ensures you will never hear the beautiful hymn Amazing Grace the same way again.”
- Paul Lisnek, Comcast
“A musical of raw power with superb, intense performances.”
- Steve Oxman, Variety
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