Veteran Broadway actor Stu James (Benny in RENT, national tour of The Color Purple) will reprise the role of black entrepreneur and music mogul John Dolphin when last season's smash hit musical RECORDED IN HOLLYWOOD gets an all-new production at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Previews began July 8, with the press opening was held on July 16. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
A rare blend of R&B, rock and relevance, RECORDED IN HOLLYWOOD tells the story of trailblazing Los Angeles entrepreneur and civil rights activist John Dolphin, who made his mark on the national music scene long before Motown existed. Written by Matt Donnelly and Jamelle Dolphin, the production features an ensemble of 21 performers, a six-piece live band, 15 original songs by Andy Cooper, and eight covers of songs launched in the legendary Dolphin's of Hollywood record store on Central Avenue in South L.A.
Cast members returning from that run include Broadway performer
Eric B. Anthony (The Lion King, Hairspray, Mary Poppins) as Percy Ivy; Jenna Gillepsie, who will portray Ruth Dolphin; and ensemble members
Franklin Grace,
Matthew Lewis Sims, Jr., Sha'Leah
Nikole Stubblefield and
Katherine Washington. New to this production are
Wilkie Ferguson III in the role of Jesse Belvin;
Thomas Hobson as
Sam Cooke;
Matt Magnusson as legendary DJ Dick "Huggy Boy" Hugg; and Frank Lawson as Los Angeles Sentinel founding publisher Leon Washington, along with ensemble members
Ashley Lynette Brown,
Caitlin Gallogly,
Gabi Hankins,
Dylan Hoffinger, Al
Fred Jackson,
Bren Thor Johnson,
Ryan Murray, Joël René, Tyler Ruebensaaland Emily Zetterberg.
John Dolphin opened his Dolphin's of Hollywood record shop in 1948, where he helped build the careers of some of the biggest names in music. Dolphin's of Hollywood soon became the most famous record store in the country, with legendary DJs like Dick "Huggy Boy" Hugg, Hunter Hancock and Charles Trammel spinning records all night from the front window. Dolphin recorded a host of R&B, blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll and even western music talent at the store on a series of labels with evocative names like "Lucky," "Money," "Cash" and "RECORDED IN HOLLYWOOD." The many great artists whose careers he advanced included
Sam Cooke, Jesse Belvin, Charles Mingus, Pee Wee Crayton and Major Lance to name a few. A marketing genius, Dolphin was the first to keep his store open 24 hours, and he pioneered the "Buy One, Get One Free" marketing concept. The shop and its broadcasts were a gathering place for music lovers from every race and background and became "the place to be" in L.A. - despite ongoing opposition and harassment from the LAPD under police Chief William H. Parker.
Four-time NAACP "Best Director" Award winner Denise Dowse returns to the
Kirk Douglas production as director, as does Stage Raw Award-nominated choreographer Cassie Crump. The musical director is
Abdul Hamid Royal; arrangements are by Kevin Toney and Andrae Alexander; and orchestrations and additional arrangements are by
John Gentry Tennyson. Set design is by
Bruce Goodrich; lighting design is by
Lap Chi Chu; sound design is by
Drew Dalzell and Alex Mackyol, Diablo Sound; costume design is by Mylette Nora; hair and wigs design is by Aishah Williams; and casting is by
Michael Donovan. The stage manager is
Ronn Goswick; general management and marketing are by Theatre Planners; and Jamelle Dolphin and
Lou Spistoproduce.
RECORDED IN HOLLYWOOD continues through Aug. 7, with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and on Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Preview performances will take place on the same schedule, beginning July 8. Tickets range from $39 - $59. The
Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 820 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232. FREE parking is located across the street, underneath Culver City City Hall: enter on Duquesne, just south of Culver Blvd. For reservations and information, call (213) 972-4488 or go to
www.RecordedInHollywood.com.
Photo Credit: Ed Krieger
Stu James
Matthew Sims, Jr.
Matthew Sims, Jr.
Frank Lawson and Stu James
Frank Lawson and Stu James
Thomas Hobson and Ensemble
Thomas Hobson and Wilkie Ferguson III
Jenna Gillespie and Stu James
Jenna Gillespie and Stu James
Eric B. Anthony and Stu James
Sha'Leah Nikole Stubblefield, Ashley Lynette Brown, Katherine Washington and Joel Rene
Eric B. Anthony and Stu James
AlFred Jackson, Frank Lawson, Joel Rene, Matthew Sims. Jr. and Franklin Grace
Dylan Hoffinger, Gabi Hankins, Caitlin Gallogly and Eric B. Anthony
Stu James and Ryan Murray
Ryan Murray, Stu James, Tyler Ruebensaal
Stu James
Stu James and Thomas Hobson
Thomas Hobson, Stu James, Sha'Leah Nikole Stubblefield, Wilkie Ferguson III, Matt Magnusson and Ashley Lynette Brown
Katherine Washington and Stu James
Right foreground: Wilkie Ferguson III as Jesse Belvin, Matt Magnusson as Huggy Boy
AlFred Jackson and Franklin Grace
Stu James and Wilkie Ferguson III
Sha'Leah Nikole Stubblefield, Eric B. Anthony and Katherine Washington
Ryan Murray, Tyler Ruebensaal, Dylan Hoffinger and Bren Thor Johnson
Stu James and Wilkie Ferguson III
Katherine Washington, Sha'Leah Nikole Stubblefield, Eric B. Anthony, Joel Rene, Ashley Lynette Brown
Thomas Hobson as Sam Cooke
Matt Magnusson as Huggy Boy
Stu James and Ensemble
Stu James and Ensemble
