THE 'LOW DOWN' ON ZACH’S SPECTACULAR CAST
Notes from Director, Dave Steakley
DAVID JENNINGS (PORGY) I saw David this summer in Atlanta performing the role of Curtis opposite Jennifer Holliday in her final return as Effie in Dreamgirls. It’s not easy holding your own against Jennifer in that role, but David was truly spectacular, and when he began singing the introduction to Steppin’ To The Bad Side, I had serious goosebumps. He is what you’d call a lady killer, as the shouts from the ladies confirmed. Oftentimes Porgy is played as a pathetic beggar, and Bess ends up with him because he is her only option when everyone else on Catfish Row turns their back on her. It is important to me that there be a vitality to Porgy and that there be a genuine sexual attraction between Porgy and Bess. I think Porgy’s sex appeal has been overshadowed by his physical disability for most people, but Bess sees past this and finds acceptance and true love like she has never experienced. Recently David also starred in a show called The Genius of Ray Charles in London’s West End and he sang Ray Charles’ version of Let The Good Times Roll for me in his audition --this really sealed the deal for me in terms of the voice I was looking for our Porgy. On Broadway, David played Coalhouse Walker, Jr., in Ragtime, John in Miss Saigon, The Duke in Play On! and was in Once Upon a Mattress with Sarah Jessica Parker. He also toured with Larry Gatlin in The Civil War.
MARVA HICKS (BESS) I’m so excited that Marva is playing Bess! She gave one of the most spine-tingling auditions I have ever experienced in 17 years at ZACH and I can’t think of anyone else I’d cast for this role having seen what she brings to it. She has a bluesy, soulful, scorching quality that will bring a depth of earthiness, worldliness and depth of feeling that will make Bess so fiery and vulnerable. Most recently Marva played the Radio in Caroline, or Change and Rafiki in The Lion King on Broadway. When Marva first came to New York she was cast as Lena Horne’s backup vocalist in her Broadway show The Lady and Her Music for 3 years. Stevie Wonder discovered Marva’s talents and enlisted her as his backup singer for many years. Marva has also backed up multiple world tours for artists like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and James Ingram. She signed with Polydor in the late '80s and her debut LP, Marva Hicks was released in 1991. Star Trek fans will know Marva as the Vulcan T'Pel, Tuvok's wife. Prior to Star Trek, she had several guest spots on Sister, Sister, Mad About You, and played Principal Jacara for the 1997-1998 season of One Life to Live.
DAVID JENNINGS (PORGY) I saw David this summer in Atlanta performing the role of Curtis opposite Jennifer Holliday in her final return as Effie in Dreamgirls. It’s not easy holding your own against Jennifer in that role, but David was truly spectacular, and when he began singing the introduction to Steppin’ To The Bad Side, I had serious goosebumps. He is what you’d call a lady killer, as the shouts from the ladies confirmed. Oftentimes Porgy is played as a pathetic beggar, and Bess ends up with him because he is her only option when everyone else on Catfish Row turns their back on her. It is important to me that there be a vitality to Porgy and that there be a genuine sexual attraction between Porgy and Bess. I think Porgy’s sex appeal has been overshadowed by his physical disability for most people, but Bess sees past this and finds acceptance and true love like she has never experienced. Recently David also starred in a show called The Genius of Ray Charles in London’s West End and he sang Ray Charles’ version of Let The Good Times Roll for me in his audition --this really sealed the deal for me in terms of the voice I was looking for our Porgy. On Broadway, David played Coalhouse Walker, Jr., in Ragtime, John in Miss Saigon, The Duke in Play On! and was in Once Upon a Mattress with Sarah Jessica Parker. He also toured with Larry Gatlin in The Civil War.
MARVA HICKS (BESS) I’m so excited that Marva is playing Bess! She gave one of the most spine-tingling auditions I have ever experienced in 17 years at ZACH and I can’t think of anyone else I’d cast for this role having seen what she brings to it. She has a bluesy, soulful, scorching quality that will bring a depth of earthiness, worldliness and depth of feeling that will make Bess so fiery and vulnerable. Most recently Marva played the Radio in Caroline, or Change and Rafiki in The Lion King on Broadway. When Marva first came to New York she was cast as Lena Horne’s backup vocalist in her Broadway show The Lady and Her Music for 3 years. Stevie Wonder discovered Marva’s talents and enlisted her as his backup singer for many years. Marva has also backed up multiple world tours for artists like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and James Ingram. She signed with Polydor in the late '80s and her debut LP, Marva Hicks was released in 1991. Star Trek fans will know Marva as the Vulcan T'Pel, Tuvok's wife. Prior to Star Trek, she had several guest spots on Sister, Sister, Mad About You, and played Principal Jacara for the 1997-1998 season of One Life to Live.
DAVID ST. LOUIS (CROWN) I saw David a few years ago in a show called Harlem Song at the Apollo Theatre that was created and directed by The Public Theatre’s George Wolfe. The musical was a historical retrospective of all the great acts that had ever played the Apollo and David was the male lead which meant he had to play a very wide variety of roles and he excelled at all of them. David possesses one of my favorite voices of all time – he sounds like the great soul singers of the 1960’s. He has such a deep resonant voice full of grit and smoke and a life hard won… it’s like Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave and Lou Rawls all rolled into one for me. On Broadway, David has starred in Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Scarlet Pimpernel, and also performed as a backup singer for Randy Travis and Stevie Wonder.
CEDRIC NEAL (SPORTIN’ LIFE) For a couple of years now I have been hearing from many of my Dallas/Ft. Worth colleagues about an actor they keep telling me belongs on stage at ZACH. I finally got to meet Cedric and am so happy he is playing Sportin’ Life in our production. He is perfection from my point of view. At our annual season preview party he brought down the house with It Ain’t Necessarily So – vocally he is a show stopper, he is a terrific dancer, and he connects so personally to each audience member – exactly the qualities we are used to celebrating at ZACH in our favorite performers!From Austin, ZACH audiences can look forward to: Janis Stinson as Maria (JC Superstar, Crowns, Jelly’s Last Jam); Judy Arnold as Serena (Rockin’ Christmas Party, Crowns); Quincy Kuykendall (Rockin’ Christmas Party, Hair); Forest Van Dyke (JC Superstar, Rockin’ Christmas Party); Billy Harden (The Exonerated, Streetcar Named Desire); Roderick Sanford (Crowns, Dreamgirls), Dorothy Clark (The Exonerated, Crowns), Azia Sims and Dooney Waller (High School Musical), Deborah “Peaches” Duncan (Crowns) Sarah Jones (Rocky Horror and Crowns), Courtney Rutherford Sanchez (Gospel At Colonus, Dreamgirls).
New to ZACH are Sacha Crosby who plays Clara (Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes), Austin gospel recording artists George Powell and Kenneth Brown, Donald Collier, Dion Arnold, Neena Coleman, Morgan Gale Beckford, Candace Bellamy, Thais Bass Moore, and Kenny Smith.
New to ZACH are Sacha Crosby who plays Clara (Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes), Austin gospel recording artists George Powell and Kenneth Brown, Donald Collier, Dion Arnold, Neena Coleman, Morgan Gale Beckford, Candace Bellamy, Thais Bass Moore, and Kenny Smith.
Tickets for this amazing production are now on sale!
Call 476-0594 xt. 1 and make your reservations now!
Limited two week run - January 25 - February 3, 2008
A ZACH Theatre production at the All New Austin Music Hall.
Call 476-0594 xt. 1 and make your reservations now!
Limited two week run - January 25 - February 3, 2008
A ZACH Theatre production at the All New Austin Music Hall.
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