Kander and Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS Ends Run April 18

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15 Street) will end its run of the world-premiere of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS on April 18. THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS was previously scheduled to run through April 4.

Last evening, the Vineyard paid tribute to the co-creator of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, John Kander, who wrote the music and lyrics to the musical with his late partner Fred Ebb.

Taking part in the gala tribute to Mr. Kander - and the music of Kander and Ebb -- were a host of stars who have appeared in numerous Kander and Ebb musicals through the years: Liza Minnelli ("Cabaret," "The Rink," "Flora, the Red Menace"), Chita Rivera ("Chicago," "The Rink," "Kiss of the Spider Woman"), Kristin Chenoweth ("Steel Pier"), David Hyde Pierce ("Curtains"), Debra Monk ("Curtains"), Jason Danieley ("Curtains"), Karen Ziemba ("Steel Pier," "Curtains"), Norm Lewis, Julia Murney and Heidi Blickenstaff ("First You Dream") and Mario Cantone ("All About Us"). The evening also included a surprise appearance by Joel Grey ("Cabaret"), who opened the tribute with a rendition of "Wilkommen" from "Cabaret," and a performance from the cast of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS has book by David Thompson and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, and features a cast which includes: Sean Bradford, Josh Breckenridge, Derrick Cobey, John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon, Colman Domingo, Rodney Hicks, KendRick Jones, Forrest McClendon, Julius Thomas III, Sharon Washington, Cody Ryan Wise, and Christian Dante White.

With music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and a book by David Thompson, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is a new musical that explores the infamous 1930's 'Scottsboro Case', in which a group of innocent African-American teenagers are falsely accused of a terrible crime -- ultimately provoking a national outrage that sparked the American Civil Rights movement.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS reunites Vineyard Theatre with John Kander, David Thompson and Susan Stroman -- who along with the late Fred Ebb -- previously collaborated on The Vineyard's revival of FLORA, THE RED MENACE in 1987.

The legendary collaboration of John Kander and Fred Ebb over four decades resulted in some of the most beloved and enduring musicals in theatre history: from FLORA, THE RED MENACE to CABARET (Tony Award); ZORBA, CHICAGO and WOMAN OF THE YEAR (Tony Award); to KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Tony Award), CURTAINS, THE VISIT and ALL ABOUT US.

David Thompson is a Tony Award nominee for Best Book of a Musical for STEEL PIER. His other credits include the script adaptation for CHICAGO and the musical THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, a musical revue of the songs of Kander and Ebb (New York Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards). In addition, he has written new librettos for the revival of FLORA, THE RED MENACE and Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD.

Susan Stroman won two Tony Awards as director and choreographer of THE PRODUCERS. She co-created, directed and choreographed CONTACT for Lincoln Center Theater (Tony Award, Best Choreography). Other Broadway credits include YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, HAPPINESS, OKLAHOMA!, THE MUSIC MAN, STEEL PIER, SHOW BOAT, (Tony Award) and CRAZY FOR YOU (Tony Award). Off-Broadway productions include AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND and FLORA, THE RED MENACE at The Vineyard.

With music direction and vocal arrangements by David Loud and orchestrations by Larry Hochman, the design team for THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is: Beowulf Boritt (Scenic design), Toni-Leslie James (Costume design), Kevin Adams (Lighting design), and Peter Hylenski (Sound design).

Vineyard Theatre is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard has also produced the musical [title of show] on Broadway. One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard has produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and developed innovative educational collaborations. Recent productions include Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed WIG OUT!. The Vineyard opened its 2009-2010 season with the enormously popular play A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, which The Vineyard recently announced is expected to receive a commercial Off-Broadway production later this season. This spring, The Vineyard will produce the world premiere of Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN and the new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Colarco, in co-production with Playwrights Horizons.

Vineyard Theatre is under the guidance of Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, Executive Director.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg