We are thrilled to announce that our 2019 mainstage production will be the world premiere of Playing Hot, presented as part of our 10th anniversary season. 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 and innovative theatrical event in the style of jazz. Fueled by a live brass band, Buddy’s legend and infectious songs are conjured to life, riffing on history and pop culture the same way his music riffed on the notes.
A special sneak peek of Playing Hot will be presented at our upcoming Gala on June 3, 2018 at (le) poisson rouge. Gala attendees will get an exclusive first look at performances from Playing Hot, as well as additional extra special performances from bold and brilliant Pipeline artists of past, present, and future. Tickets to the event are available now and are limited. Snatch ’em up today!
Pipeline first staged a one-night-only developmental production of Playing Hot in June 2016. Today, as we announce this momentous step for Pipeline and this project, we would like to express our gratitude to the artists involved in that pivotal workshop: Trevor Bachman, Josh Bonzie, Christopher Bowser*, Sarafina Bush, Fernando Contreras*, Ben Fichthorn, Andrew Halchak, Dante Jeanfelix, Roi King, Emma Meltzer, Aidan Zev Meyer, Cristina Pitter*, Monique St. Cyr, Jason Warley, Khrys Williams.
Developed in consultation with James Williams and the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys (Edwin Brown, Miles Lyons, Joshua “Jams” Marotta).
Meet Our Artists
Kevin Armento‘s plays include Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (Drama Desk Nomination, Stage Edinburgh Award), Good Men Wanted (New York Stage and Film), Companion Piece (Pleasance Theatre), Balls (co-written with Bryony Lavery, One Year Lease/Stages Repertory Theatre, 59E59 Theaters), and Devil with the Blue Dress (Bunker Theatre). His work has been produced and developed with Arena Stage, Ars Nova, Cape Cod Theatre Project, Dixon Place, The Flea, Johnny Mercer Writers Colony, The New Ohio, and Seattle Repertory Theatre, among others. He is an alum of The Working Farm at SPACE, Artist-in-Residence at The Drama League, and Play Group and Makers Lab at Ars Nova, where he is currently under commission. www.kevinarmento.com
Jaki Bradley is a Brooklyn-based director of new plays and musicals. Recent projects: Good Men Wanted (NY Stage and Film), Breeders (NLTP, TONY Critic’s Pick), Mama Metallica (Denver Center New Play Summit), and Playing Hot (Gym at Judson/Ars Nova). She has developed and presented work with The Public, Williamstown, Soho Rep, Clubbed Thumb, Goodspeed Musicals, Arena Stage, Ars Nova, EST and The Flea. As an associate, she worked with Michael Greif, Leigh Silverman, Lisa Peterson and Daniel Aukin. She is a member of the Civilians R&D Group, and a former Artist-in-Residence at Ars Nova, Drama League Artist-in-Residence, member of the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, Williamstown Directing Corps, Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, and U.S. Fulbright Scholar. www.jakibradley.com
Marcus Miller began his studies in saxophone at age nine and, with the help of World Renown Saxophonist Bruce Williams (Roy Hargrove, World Saxophone Quartet), he developed a passion that put him on stage professionally at 13. Marcus has performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert alongside Jon Batiste, Carnegie Hall, and has recorded with Benny Blanco and Ryan Tedder. With gifts extending beyond music, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Mathematics and speaks regularly about the relationship between math and music at the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. His mission is to shed light on the close relationship between the artistic and technical imagination. www.marcustheartyst.com
