Photo Flash: Amber Riley, Jared Grimes, Joshua Henry and Adriane Lenox Star in COTTON CLUB PARADE, Opening Tonight!

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by BWW News Desk

Amber Riley ("Glee"), Joshua Henry, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox star in New York City Center's acclaimed production of Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, returning to City Center for seven performances tonight, November 14th through the 18th, 2012. Conceived by Jack Viertel and presented under the auspices of City Center's Tony Award–winning Encores! series, Cotton Club Parade is once again be directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, with music direction by Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis. The show features the Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars under the direction of Daryl Waters. Below, check out photos of Riley, Henry, Lenox and more onstage!

Cotton Club Parade opened at City Center on November 18, 2011 for a limited, six-performance run and received unanimous rave reviews. Cotton Club Parade is a Broadway-style revue celebrating Ellington's years at the famed Harlem nightclub in the 1920s and '30s, when the joint was jumping with revues featuring big band swing and blues. 

As in the original shows, Cotton Club Parade will feature singers, dancers and variety acts, with songs by the greatest jazz composers of the time, including Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Digga Digga Doo"), a young Harold Arlen ("Stormy Weather," "I've Got the World on a String," "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,"), and of course, Duke Ellington ("Rockin' in Rhythm," "Cotton Club Stomp," "Black and Tan Fantasy," and "Creole Love Call").

Cotton Club Parade will run for seven performances, according to the following schedule: Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29 and will be available starting August 13 at the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix at 212-581-1212, or online at NYCityCenter.org. Further information is available at NYCityCenter.org and jalc.org.


The Cast of Cotton Club Parade


Karine Plantad and "Dr. Ew"


Adriane Lenox


Joshua Henry and the Cast of Cotton Club Parade


Amber Riley and Company