4th Wall Theatre To Present 'Dessa Rose'
By: Faetra Petillo
4th Wall Theatre, a non union professional theatre in Bloomfield, NJ is presenting the New Jersey premier of "Dessa Rose" which had its New York premier in 2005 at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre. The show will be directed by 4th Wall Artistic Director, Gregory G. Allen. "We are thrilled to present this hard-hitting musical and to have Greg Allen at the helm” says 4th Wall Executive Director, Gwen Ricks-Spencer.
“Dessa Rose" is based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Sherley Anne Williams with book and lyrics by the Tony award winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The Lincoln Center run featured, LaChanze, Rachel York, Michael Hayden and Norm Lewis. Based on both fact and fiction, the musical weaves together the stories of two real women who struggled for different kinds of freedom in an era defined by men. Ruth Sutton is a white woman abandoned by her husband and living on an isolated farm. Dessa Rose is an escaped slave on the run with a newborn infant to protect, who seeks refuge on Ruth’s farm. Hidden in this Alabama backwater, the two women’s uneasy alliance ultimately transcends any racial barriers as they find the strength to confront the world on their own terms. Deborah Martin is the musical director of the 4th Wall production and the show features Vanessa Robinson, Betsy Jilka, Chris Budinich, Xavier Rice, KJ, Jewel M. Crenshaw, John Zisa, Jeffrey Dopson, Katelyn Hoover, Uton Evan, Debra Thais Evans, and Rasha Jay. The musical will run weekends from October 3-18 at the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield. NJ. More info at www.4thwalltheatre.org. Tickets are $22 and can be reserved at: 973-748-9008 ext 279 or purchased at the door.
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