Photo Coverage: York Theatre Company's DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE Celebrates Opening Night

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, celebrates musical revues with the season opener of the Winter 2016 Musicals in Mufti Series: DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE, a musical entertainment with by Micki Grant, conceived by Vinnette Carroll.

Directed by Leslie Dockery, and with musical direction by William Foster McDaniel, the eight-member cast will feature Jelani Alladin (Ragtime), Darilyn Castillo (It Ain't Nothin But the Blues), Doug Eskew (The Color Purple), Tina Fabrique(Ragtime), Marva Hicks (Motown, The Musical), Devin L. Roberts (The Lion King), Raun Ruffin (The Civil War) andDebra Walton (Storyville).

The limited engagement of DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE will play 10 performances only through March 6, 2016 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE, a musical entertainment with book, music, and lyrics by Micki Grant and conceived by Vinnette Carroll, will be directed by Leslie Dockery. With five 1972 Tony Award nominations (including Best Musical) and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical the same year, the show also won Micki Grant a Grammy Award for best score -- the first female to be so honored. Ms. Grant was also one of the stars of the show, which came to Broadway after successful runs in Washington DC, Detroit, and Philadelphia. The show ran for over two years on Broadway. A dynamic mixture of gospel, jazz, funk, soul, calypso, and soft rock, the show illuminates the African-American experience with vibrant song and dance. DON'T BOTHER ME, I CAN'T COPE is the first Broadway musical written entirely by a woman and the first Broadway production to be directed by a female African-American.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Musicals In Mufti Presents Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope

James Morgan (Producing Artistic Director)

James Morgan

William Foster McDaniel (Musical Director) with Clyde Bullard on bass and Napoleon Revels-Bey on drums

Doug Eskew, Debra Walton, Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique, Jelani Alladin, Raun Ruffin, Darilyn Castillo and Devin L. Roberts

Doug Eskew, Debra Walton, Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique, Jelani Alladin, Raun Ruffin, Darilyn Castillo and Devin L. Roberts

Doug Eskew and Debra Walton

Debra Walton, Doug Eskew, Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique, Jelani Alladin, Raun Ruffin, Darilyn Castillo and Devin L. Roberts

Debra Walton, Doug Eskew, Tina Fabrique, Jelani Alladin, Raun Ruffin, Darilyn Castillo and Devin L. Roberts

Marva Hicks

Tina Fabrique

Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique, Micki Grant (Composer) and Jelani Alladin

Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique, Micki Grant and Jelani Alladin

Micki Grant

Micki Grant

Debra Walton, Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique, Micki Grant and Jelani Alladin

Marva Hicks, Tina Fabrique and Micki Grant

Micki Grant

Tina Fabrique, Marva Hicks and Micki Grant

Micki Grant