Will Power's FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK Opens 10/24 at CTC

Hip hop theater artist Will Power’s fierce new coming-of-age tale infused with classic 70s funk has its world premiere tonight (Friday, October 24) at The Children’s Theatre Company (CTC). FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK, created by Power in collaboration with composer Justin Ellington and director Derrick Sanders, runs through November 16 on the Cargill Stage as the first show in the ctc4teens season.

In bringing FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK to the stage, CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius says, “Like the recent Passing Strange and Spring Awakening, this show is completely new, completely unique. When we opened our Cargill Theatre with Flow and experienced the intensity, power and creativity of Will Power, I knew that I wanted him to create something new for CTC. He is a rare and unique artist—generous of spirit, prodigious in his talent, and vital in his theatricality.”

The show opens with the soulful Dr. Funk— mystical guru of all things groovy in the 1970s—introducing the members of the newly formed band, “The Five Fingers of Funk.” The band has big dreams and one goal: to win the contest at Dee Dee’s Nightclub. When struggles with parents, bosses, the neighborhood drug dealer and their own inner demons test the group, the music’s the thing that holds them together. Humor, talent and dedication to the funkalicious fingerings of classic 70s funk music drive this new musical, recipient of a prestigious Joyce Award.

Power, the creator of FLOW, the solo tour-de-force seen worldwide, is widely regarded as one of the leaders in hip hop theater.  Says Power, “Funk was the soundtrack of my childhood. As I grew into a man and turned to hip hop as my main form of creative expression, I borrowed from the funk. It’s the foundation for what I do today. I wanted to create a work rooted in my coming-of-age experiences but one that is relevant to today’s audiences and to the Twin Cities. As the home turf of Prince and The Time, Minneapolis was one of the epicenters of funk.”

Power is co-composing the music for the show with Justin Ellington, whose work as a composer/sound designer with Alliance Theatre of Atlanta helped earn the company the 2007 Tony Award for Best Regional Theater.  Director Derrick Sanders is the founding artistic director of Congo Square Theatre Company in Chicago and was the director of the Lortel and Audelco-nominated King Hedley Off-Broadway for Signature Theatre.

“The idea of exploring the fabric of teenage American life through funk music intrigues me immensely,” says Sanders. “I think there could be no better reflection on the climate today than using the passion of the funk to explore the heights of possiblity and the depths of corruption that existed in the 70s and still echo today.”

FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK features a cast of eight actors who also serve as the show’s on-stage musicians: Keith A. Hale as Big Ced, Jahi Kearse as Poppo, Traci Allen as Ruby, Namir Smallwood as DP, Matt Rein as Falcon, Edwin Lee Gibson in several roles including Dr. Funk, Greta Oglesby as Big Ced’s Momma and Dee Dee, and Steve Sweere also in several roles including Falcon’s Pa.

FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK opens Friday, October 24 (previews begin Tuesday, October 21), and plays through Sunday, November 16. The show is most enjoyed by ages 13 and older. Tickets range from $29 for adults and $19 for students. Tickets are on sale at (612) 874-0400 or www.childrenstheatre.org.

The Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves over 300,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest theater companies in the nation. The company is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, celebrated international productions and challenging new work.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Renta Ltd.

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