BAYARD: A New Musical Gets Debut Performance Dates!

Richard Allen Enterprises in Association with Boys & Girls Harbor of Harlem and SCAN New York present a benefit production of BAYARD: A New Musical. Playing at El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029). Performances run April 11 through April 13, 2019.

BAYARD: A New Musical directed by Richard Allen with book by Richard Allen, music and lyrics by Taran Gray and Richard Allen, and choreography by Chloe McMillian . The benefit production will raise funds for the performing arts academy of Boys & Girls Harbor. The production will feature the Harbor Performing Arts Elite Ensemble.

"Richard Allen and Taran Gray's wonderful production of BAYARD , affords proper, long neglected and deserved, recognition of a singular, positive force in our struggle for social justice in America", said Lew Zuchman, executive director of SCAN NY (and an original freedom rider and 60's activist himself). He continued, "LuVaghn Brown, an original Freedom Rider and 60's activist, born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, recently noted, 'When we were young, we sat at the footsteps of Bayard Rustin! Bayard's wisdom, courage and humanity moved and guided us... he was literally 'the man!' BAYARD: A New Musical will transport the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's into the progressive intersectionality of 2018, recognizing the unity of the struggle of all oppressed folk... including our LGBTQ brothers and sisters!

BAYARD, set in 1963 at the beginning of the creation of the March for Jobs and Freedom, a powerful time for the Civil Rights Movement where America is fractured on whether it can or will be a leader on the tumultuous world stage of racial relations. The musical tells the story of activist and Civil Rights leader, Bayard Rustin, the organizing genius. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with A. Philip Randolph and the rest of the Big Six needed the march to unite the different Civil Rights movements and fend off southern segregationists. Only one man could organize an event of this magnitude, Bayard Rustin. He had always been the "wizard behind the wall" working in the deepest shadows of the movement but now he would fully be thrust into the spotlight, a perilous place for an openly gay black man in the Sixties.

"We are honored to be part of this dynamic musical, telling a story of triumph and leadership." says Chloe A. McMillan, Artistic Director of Harbor Performing Arts Academy, "Bayards story is of instrumental significance to all generations. It's imperative that the unsung heroes stories are told. Bayard is one of those deserving heroes and we are proud to be part of representing his legacy".

BAYARD is the second musical of Richard Allen and Taran Gray following their award winning show FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical and Part Two of their announced "Freedom Trilogy". Part Three of the "Freedom Trilogy" will be a play by Richard Allen, SWEET LORRAINE , with soundtrack and sound design by Taran Gray. SWEET LORRAINE, in three acts, gives us a glimpse into the tribulations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his multiple visits to the Sweet Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Boys & Girls Harbor, Inc. is a non-profit, community-based, arts and education organization providing STEM-based afterschool and summer programming and a Performing Arts Academy. The Harbor Performing Arts Academy offers performing arts instruction on weekday afternoons and on Saturdays during the school year, and for seven weeks during the summer. Boys & Girls Harbor is a member of the Berklee City Music Network. Whatever their experience or ability, through the Harbor Academy, all students learn to collaborate, compromise, express themselves creatively and forcefully, recognize each other's unique talents, and develop their own gifts.

SCAN New York is a non-profit youth and family service organization that provides a variety of integrated supports to the highest risk children and families of Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx. Serving over 7,000 children and teens and 1,000 adults and families each year at 22 program sites, SCAN is the largest youth service provider in the communities we serve. Traditional youth and family service providers typically target their client's problems and then terminate program delivery at the resolution of the presenting problem. SCAN considers the traditional "service termination" as a beginning -- we employ a strength-based, empowerment-focused service approach, building upon individual and family strengths, inspiring our children and their families toward positive goals. The agency has over 80 full-time and 300 part-time employees with an annual budget of over $15M. SCAN has been led by its Executive Director, Lewis Zuchman, an original 1961 Freedom Rider, since 1987.

Richard Allen Enterprises (Richard Allen and Taran Gray) is the producer and Boys & Girls Harbor of Harlem and SCAN are the executive producers. General Management by Richard Allen Enterprises (Tim Baker).