Abstract
Stew and Heidi Rodewald, creators of the Tony Award-winning show Passing Strange, team with director Joanna Settle to bring you their thrilling new musical, THE TOTAL BENT, a riotous new show at the crossroads of the sacred and profane, survival and liberation, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll.
When a British record producer arrives in Montgomery, Alabama to hook Marty Roy, a young black musical prodigy, he launches us back into Marty’s tumultuous upbringing. The son of a gospel star and self-proclaimed healer, Marty spent his childhood writing the songs that have made his charismatic father famous. But in a nation on the verge of social upheaval, with the rising heat from the street guiding his pen, Marty finds himself at odds with his spiritually forceful father as he strives to create a masterpiece that will change America— no matter the cost.
A funny, fiery, one-of-a-kind show, THE TOTAL BENT is about the passions that divide a father and son as they make their music and make their choice between salvation and selling out.
THE TOTAL BENT features Marty Beller (Drums, Musical Direction); Ato Blankson-Wood (Marty Roy); John Blevins(Trumpet); Kenny Brawner (Deacon Charlie); David Cale (Byron Blackwell); Vondie Curtis Hall (Joe Roy); Damian Lemar Hudson (Deacon Dennis); Jahi Kearse (Andrew); Brad Mulholland (Saxophone); Heidi Rodewald (Bass); Stew(Guitar);and Curtis Wiley (Abee).
Text by Stew
Music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Directed by Joanna Settle
Choreography David Neumann
Musical Direction by Marty Beller
Scenic Design by Andrew Lieberman
Costume Design by Gabriel Berry
Lighting Design by Thom Weaver
Sound Design by Obadiah Eaves and Sten Severson
Hair and Wig Design by Cookie Jordan
When a British record producer arrives in Montgomery, Alabama to hook Marty Roy, a young black musical prodigy, he launches us back into Marty’s tumultuous upbringing. The son of a gospel star and self-proclaimed healer, Marty spent his childhood writing the songs that have made his charismatic father famous. But in a nation on the verge of social upheaval, with the rising heat from the street guiding his pen, Marty finds himself at odds with his spiritually forceful father as he strives to create a masterpiece that will change America— no matter the cost.
A funny, fiery, one-of-a-kind show, THE TOTAL BENT is about the passions that divide a father and son as they make their music and make their choice between salvation and selling out.
THE TOTAL BENT features Marty Beller (Drums, Musical Direction); Ato Blankson-Wood (Marty Roy); John Blevins(Trumpet); Kenny Brawner (Deacon Charlie); David Cale (Byron Blackwell); Vondie Curtis Hall (Joe Roy); Damian Lemar Hudson (Deacon Dennis); Jahi Kearse (Andrew); Brad Mulholland (Saxophone); Heidi Rodewald (Bass); Stew(Guitar);and Curtis Wiley (Abee).
Text by Stew
Music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Directed by Joanna Settle
Choreography David Neumann
Musical Direction by Marty Beller
Scenic Design by Andrew Lieberman
Costume Design by Gabriel Berry
Lighting Design by Thom Weaver
Sound Design by Obadiah Eaves and Sten Severson
Hair and Wig Design by Cookie Jordan
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| State | Published - May 10 2016 |