MAMA, I WANT TO SING: THE NEXT GENERATION Opens at Dempsey Theater, 2/25

Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation, the acclaimed revival of Mama, I Want to Sing – the 1983 musical based on the life and times of singer Doris Troy – will re-open at The Dempsey Theater (127 W. 127th Street, NYC). The musical will perform weekly on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. beginning February 25, 2012. Tickets are $35.00 and are available through SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or www.smartix.com.

Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation has book and lyrics by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro and original music by Wesley Naylor. Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation is directed by Mr. Wydro and has musical direction by Gregory M. Kelly.

Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation tells the story of a talented young gospel singer who embraces secular music, despite the strong objections of her mother. As a tribute to many of the African-American singers who rose from church choirs to stardom during the 1960s and 70s, Vy Higginsen based the musical on the life of her sister, Doris Troy, whose 1963 hit "Just One Look," launched her to international fame.

The cast of Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation features Knoelle Higginson as Doris, Bettina Pennon as Mama, Sandra Huff as Sister Carrie, Tyrone Flowers as Reverend Winters, Elijah Ahmad Lewis as Minister of Music and Vy Higginsen as The Narrator.

Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation also features performers from Ms. Higginsen's Gospel for Teens. Recently featured on CBS-TV's "60 Minutes," Gospel For Teens is a program of the Mama Foundation for the Arts, Ms. Higginsen's School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts, which has grown to be a highly respected and influential program for youth between the ages of 13 and 19.

The original production of Mama, I Want to Sing opened on March 23, 1983. It played for eight years in New York (1983-1991) becoming the longest-running African-American Off-Broadway musical in American history. The musical has played over 2,500 performances in New York and another 1,000 performances through a three-year tour across the USA, as well as runs in London's West End, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy; multiple appearances in the Caribbean and seven tours throughout Japan.

Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation opened at The Dempsey Theater on April 16, 2011 and extended its limited run through December 17, 2011.

General admission tickets to Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation, beginning weekly performances at The Dempsey Theater (127 West 127th Street, NYC) on February 25, 2012, are $35 and available through SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or www.smartix.com.
For theater parties and group sales information (10 or more tickets), please call the Mama Foundation for the Arts at 212-280-1045.

For more information on Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation please visit www.mamafoundation.org.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg