AFTER MIDNIGHT to Celebrate Duke Ellington's Birthday, Jazz Appreciation Month with Special Offerings Through 4/26

After Midnight, Broadway's smash hit Cotton Club musical, and recent 5-time Outer Critic Circle 2014 nominee, will celebrate Duke Ellington's birthday (April 29) and Jazz Appreciation Month with a week of special activities throughout the city. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle and featuring the big-band sounds of nine-time Grammy Award-winner Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars, After Midnight performs at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street).

After Midnight's Jazz Appreciation Month Celebration will include the following activities:

Tuesday, April 22
Andaz Hotel Fifth Avenue has joined the festivities by creating signature cocktails inspired by After Midnight. These speakeasy-style cocktails will be available to order all week at their bar located at 485 5th Avenue at 41st Street.

Wednesday, April 23
After Midnight will host a group of young jazz artists from Jazz at Lincoln Center at the evening performance.

Thursday, April 24
Audience members attending the April 24th performance are invited to join the cast and company for a talkback immediately following, where the cast will take questions from fans.

Friday, April 25
@AfterMidnightNY will be hosting an online listening party on Twitter with special giveaways at 3pm to celebrate the release of exclusive tracks from After Midnight, recorded live on Broadway.

Saturday, April 26
Join cast members from After Midnight for a special performance of "Diga Diga Doo" at the Tribeca Film Family Festival Street Fair during the "Broadway Hour," starting at 11:30 am. For more information, visit http://tribecafilm.com/festival/events/tribeca-family-festival-street-fair.

After Midnight takes the sexy, smoky glamour of the original Jazz Age and catapults it into a whole new era of heart-pounding, mind-blowing entertainment for modern Broadway audiences. Refracted through a contemporary lens, After Midnight celebrates Duke Ellington's years at the Cotton Club using his original arrangements and performed by a world-class big band of 17 musicians hand-picked by living jazz legend, Wynton Marsalis. The timeless tunes set against a narrative of Langston Hughes poetry provide an authentic backdrop for an array of cutting-edge performances by 25 sensational vocalists and dancers, including special guest stars, whose interpretations shatter everything you think you know about music, nightlife and Broadway.

In its heyday, the Cotton Club featured a cavalcade of guest stars each week, known then as "Celebrity Nights." After Midnight reintroduces this exciting tradition by presenting stars of today in limited engagement appearances throughout the musical's run. Currently starring Vanessa Williams, Grammy Award-winning recording artist Fantasia began the tradition (10/18/13 - 2/9/14), followed by four-time Grammy Award-winning icon k.d. lang (2/11/14 - 3/9/14) and Grammy Award-winners Toni Braxton & Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds (3/17/14 - 3/30/14). Multi-platinum recording artist and actress Vanessa Williams headlines now through May 11, 2014 followed by a four-week return engagement by Fantasia (5/13/14 - 6/8/14).

Conceived by Jack Viertel, After Midnight features direction and choreography by Warren Carlyle, musical direction by Wynton Marsalis and musical supervision by Daryl Waters.

The design team for After Midnight includes prolific design couple Isabel Toledo (costumes) and Ruben Toledo, Tony Award-winners John Lee Beatty (set design) and Howell Binkley (lighting design) and Peter Hylenski (sound).

After Midnight is produced by Scott Sanders Productions, and Wynton Marsalis, in association with Marks-Moore-Turnbull Group; Stephen and Ruth Hendel; Tom Kirdahy.

The performance schedule for After Midnight is as follows: Tuesdays - Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm, and matinee performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:00 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets range from $60.00 to $142.00 (premium tickets are $199) and are available via TicketMaster and in persona at the Brooks Atkinson box office. Tickets for groups of 12 or more can be purchased by calling 212-239-6262 or 800-432-7780 or by visiting http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy