This past June, we asked our community of theater-makers to send us their big ideas for a one-night-only developmental production in Spring 2016. We selected just one big idea, dreamed up by Kevin Armento and Jaki Bradley, and have been secretly working with them over the last 6 months to bring it all together.
Today we are proud to introduce you to PLAYING HOT:
Set within a brassy dance hall, PLAYING HOT deconstructs the incredible story of the birth of jazz in New Orleans. Retracing the rise and fall of Buddy Bolden, the little-known trumpeter who pioneered the radical sound that would become America’s Art Form, the show is neither biography nor period piece, neither play nor musical, but an explosive theatrical event in the style of jazz. A live brass band joins a dynamic ensemble to riff on everything from Mardi Gras and Public Enemy, to questions of appropriation and the cult of celebrity.
PLAYING HOT is created by Kevin Armento and Jaki Bradley, with set & prop design by Chris Bowser, light design by Brian Tovar, costume design by Sarafina Bush, and featuring James Williams as Buddy Bolden as well as trumpeter and music collaborator. James is joined by a truly stellar ensemble.
June 4 | 7:30PM
Gym @ Judson | 243 Thompson St
Meet Our Ensemble
