Crystal Joy, Saycon Sengbloh & More Join Cast of Center Stage's Bob Marley Musical; Full Company Announced!

Center Stage announces the full cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Marley, a new musical with music and lyrics by Bob Marley, and written and directed by Center Stage Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah. The production will run May 7* to June 14, 2015 at Center Stage in Baltimore.

Telling the story of a pivotal moment in Bob Marley's life in the late 1970s, when he spent two years of self-imposed exile in London after surviving an assassination attempt in his home in Jamaica, the musical marks the first time Marley's legendary music has been featured in a biographical context on the stage.

Kwei-Armah says: "We are so fortunate to have assembled such a brilliant group of actors who are recognized for their stellar work on television and film screens and stages all over the world - from Broadway to London's West End, and Jamaica to Baltimore - to tell the story of this remarkable chapter in Bob Marley's life."

Joining previously announced Mitchell Brunings, who plays Bob Marley, is a company of distinguished actors and musicians.

Playing Rita Marley is Saycon Sengbloh, (Broadway: Motown, Fela!, Hair, The Color Purple, Wicked and Aida).

Mykal Kilgore (Broadway: Motown and Hair. National Tour: The Book of Mormon) plays another music legend, Stevie Wonder, in Marley.

Crystal Joy, (Broadway: Motown and Hair. National Tour and Regional: Legally Blonde, Memphis, The Wiz and Dreamgirls) plays backing singer and star in her own right Judy Mowatt.

Ano Okera (National Tour: RENT. Regional: Dreamgirls and West Side Story) plays producer and filmmaker Don Letts.

Marley's dance captain, Khetanya Henderson, (Regional: Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles/Love Show in Las Vegas, Hairspray, A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde. Film: Hairspray and Enchanted) is also playing the role of Diane Jobson.

Playing Peter Tosh from the Wailers is Michael Luwoye (Regional: Tick, tick ... BOOM!, Hairspray and Guys and Dolls).

Jaime Lincoln Smith (Gleam at Center Stage. Broadway: Holler If Ya Hear Me. Off-Broadway: Ruined, Seed and Birthright) plays Marley's friend and artist Neville Garrick.

Susan Kelechi Watson (Broadway: A Naked Girl on the Appian Way. TV: Louie, The Following and The Blacklist) plays backing singer Marcia Griffiths.

John Patrick Hayden (Broadway: Tartuffe. Regional: Born Yesterday, Death of a Salesman and Other Desert Cities) plays Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.

Luke Forbes (Off-Broadway: The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino) plays Tek Life, Jamaica Labour Party enforcer.

Don Guillory (Broadway: Romeo and Juliet and Stick Fly) plays Don Taylor, Marley's manager.

Howard W. Overshown (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at Center Stage. Broadway: Julius Caesar. Off-Broadway: Richard III and Blue) plays Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley.

David Heron (Off-Broadway: Coriolanus-The African Warrior and Antony and Cleopatra) is cast as Tony Welsh, People's National Party enforcer.

John-Andrew Morrison (Off-Broadway: The Tooth of Crime, The Blacks and Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death) plays Claudie Massop, JLP enforcer.

Shayne Powell (Off-Broadway: The Black That I Am) plays Malakai, a close friend of Marley's.

Other members of the company include Kena Anae (Carly Barrett), Jonathan Hooks (Family Man), Michael Rogers (Rasta Elder), Damian Thompson (Bunny Wailer) and Michaela Waters (Cindy Breakspeare).

Baltimore-area ensemble members include: Christopher Dews, Tracey Farrar, Gary-Kayi Fletcher, Victoria Harper, Bill Hurlbut, Kyle Jackson, Jeff Kirkman III, Mawk, Allison McLean, Marili Mejias and Olu Butterfly Woods.

The Marley creative team is: Kwame Kwei-Armah (director, playwright), Jason Webb (music director), Kenny Seymour (music supervisor), Germaul Barnes (choreographer), Neil Patel (scenic designer), ESOSA (costume designer), Michelle Habeck (lighting designer), Shane Rettig (sound designer), Alex Koch (projections), Oskar Eustis (dramaturg), Gavin Witt (dramaturg). Stage managers for the production are Lloyd Davis Jr. and Gwen Gilliam.

Suzette Newman and Chris Blackwell for Stageplay, Ltd., are producers, with Jessica R. Jenen serving as general manager.

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