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BROADWAY NOIRE: MAKE THEM HEAR YOU Celebrates African American Musical Theater
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 11, 2017
You can buy tickets online at metropolitianroom.com. The Metropolitan Room is located at 34 west 22nd street NY, NY 10010, between 5th & 6th Aves. Nearest Subways: 23rd Street Station on 1, 2, N, Q, R, F, M, PATH.
The Performers:
Sheniqua Trotman: Sheniqua received the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Debut playing Effie in Dreamgirls in 2014. Past credits include: Aint Misbehavin, Smokey Joe's Café, The Life, Once on This Island, and Chicago. Sheniqua has also toured with Diana Ross and her daughter, Rhonda Ross as a background singer.
Jamarious Stewart: Jamarious "JAM" Stewart is always on the move, dazzling audiences throughout the country with his energy and smile. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, he began gymnastics and performing at a very young age. In pursuit of a new challenge he found the art of dance as a way to add style and finesse to his art. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he studied Dance and Psychology. He relocated to New York in 2013 and became an Action Hero with STREB: Extreme Action. When JAM isn't flying through the air he continues to focus and train in the areas of education, choreography, gymnastics and musical theater.
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Collin L. Howard: Collin L. Howard is proud to represent the legacy of black musical thetare artist at The Metropolitan Room. A graduate of The Hartt School, a few previous credits include: Miss Saigon (John), Rent (Tom Collins, Benny), Smokey Joe's Cafe (Fred), Dreamgirls, Showboat, and The Who's Tommy! Proud member of Actor's Equity.
Manna KnJoi: American Prize prize winner for opera, embodies the quality and natural endowment to conquer a wide range of repertoire from Mozart to verismo and modern works. In the 2015/16 season Ms. KnJoi has appeared as guest artist in concert at the University of Arkansas and starred in the title role in Imoinda, a new opera by UK resident and Cuban-American composer, Odaline de lA Martinez, filmed for Opera America-affiliated companies. This, just after she made her summer international debut as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte at the Tuscia Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy and appeared at Lincoln Center in concert with Opera Ebony of New York. She was seen as Essie Robeson in the world premier of Adolphus Hailstork's new biopic opera Robeson: The Opera with Trilogy Opera Company at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Last season brought her debuts as Pamina in The Magic Flute with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly with New York Lyric Opera at Carnegie Hall and Micaëla in Carmen at Lincoln Center. Manna KnJoi has also taken the stage with California Opera in the title role of Suor Angelica and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. In musical theater venues, she has performed the role of Lady Beaconsfield in Jekyll and Hyde, and Dolly in Hello, Dolly! She has also impressed audiences from the concert stage as a featured artist with Opera Exposures, Beethoven Festival Orchestra and Harlem Opera Theater of New York. In her growing oratorio appearances, she has sung the Seven Last Words of Christ by Dubois, Haydn's Missa Brevis, the Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Requiem, and multiple performances of Handel's Messiah. Manna KnJoi has received numerous recognitions including finalist placement in: the 2015 Art Song Preservation Society Competition, the 2014 Paris Opera Awards, the Benjamin Mathews and Opera Birmingham competitions. She has won the 2012 Elaine Malbin Vocal Competition, Mid-South District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Lily Pons Scholarship from the Palm Springs Opera Guild, and the Alabama state National Society of Arts and Letters Vocal Competition, and is three-time winner in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Vocal Competition. When Manna sang for Marilyn Horne, the legendary mezzo-soprano pronounced her voice, "An incredible instrument."
The Director and Creator:
Derrick Byars: Derrick Byars is a young and up coming professional theater artist. He is well versed in all facets of theater. While attending Lee High School Derrick was pianist at both Lakeside UM Church and Monte Sano UM Church. His senior year he was awarded the AVA State Outstanding Accompanist award and a resolution from the Alabama State Board of Education for his PTA Reflections composition. After graduating from Lee High School in 2014 he attended UAB. While in Birmingham he worked at Red Mountain Theater Company and Samford University as a sound and lighting designer. He has designed shows such as Mary Poppins, Oklahoma, Big Fish, Les Miserables, Cats, and many others. Derrick has directed many shows including Annie, Fame, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and On the Town. Derrick is also a very talented musician, conductor, and composer. He was the Organist and accompanist at Weddington United Methodist Church. He has also music directed shows such as Once on this Island, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, Ain't Misbehavin', Elf! The musical, and many more. As a composer, lyricist and book writer, Derrick strives to tell interesting stories in new and old styles. Derrick wants his work to have a strong message. His work is a fresh take while still incorporating "old-school" themes and techniques. Go to DerrickByars.com to find more and get updates on upcoming projects!
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