Fernando Contreras, Dante Jeanfelix, Roi King, and More Will Lead Pipeline Theatre Company's PLAYING HOT

Pipeline Theatre Company has announced full casting for the world premiere of jazz concert-party-play hybrid Playing Hot, created by Kevin Armento (Balls) and Jaki Bradley (1969: The Second Man). Playing Hot is written by Armento and C.A. Johnson (Thirst), will be directed by Bradley, and will feature musical supervision by Marcus Miller. Playing Hot will begin previews at Theater 511 (511 West 54th Street) on April 18, 2019, and officially open on May 2, playing a limited engagement through May 12, 2019. Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.pipelinetheatre.org/tickets.

The cast of Playing Hot includes Fernando Contreras (Ghost the Musical), Dante Jeanfelix (Balls), Roi King ( The Argument ), Emma Meltzer (Good Men Wanted), Cristina Pitter (Behind the Sheet), Linton Smith II (theatrical debut), Monique St. Cyr (Thunderbodies), and Eric R. Williams (Into the Woods).

Playing Hot will feature set design by Jason Sherwood (RENT Live!), lighting design by Stacey Derosier (Mies Julie), costume design by Haydee Zelideth (This Is Modern Art), and sound design by Jim Petty of Five Ohm Productions (Folk Wandering). Casting is by Margaret Dunn of TBD Productions. Kristy Bodall (Folk Wandering) will serve as Stage Manager.

This explosive new show takes you inside a brassy New Orleans dance hall, where the incredible untold story of the birth of jazz is brought to life. Retracing the rise and fall of Buddy Bolden, the radical trumpeter who pioneered America's Art Form, Playing Hot is neither play nor musical, neither biography nor period piece -- but a singular theatrical event in the style of jazz. With the help of a live brass band, Buddy's legend and infectious sound echo through time, riffing on history and pop culture much like his music riffed on the notes on the page.

Pipeline Theatre Company, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary season in 2019, began developing Playing Hot with Armento and Bradley in 2015 as part of their Big Mystery Show program. Playing Hot is the first time Pipeline Theatre Company is presenting a work they have overseen from commission to full mainstage production. After months of development and rehearsals, it was presented for one night only in June 2016 at the Gym at Judson as part of the Big Mystery Show program, and then received a workshop presentation in May 2017.

Playing Hot received developmental support as part of the 2016 Artist Residency Program of The Drama League of New York (Roger T. Danforth, Artistic Director, Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director, funded in part by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust), from Pipeline Theatre Company, and through The Habitat Theater Company's Directors Playground. Playing Hot was the recipient of a 2015 Jerome Travel and Study Grant and has received support from the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).

Tickets to all performances are available now at www.pipelinetheatre.org/tickets. Tickets range from $25 to $75 and vary by performance date.

The performance schedule for Playing Hot is as follows: Wednesday-Friday at 7:30PM; Saturday at 4:30PM & 9PM; Sunday at 7:30PM.

Pipeline Theatre Company also announced that Ari Schrier will be stepping down as Artistic Director at the end of the season. Schrier's last day in the position will be June 30, 2019.

The decision to take a step back is not one I made lightly, said Schrier. Pipeline has been and will continue to be at the center of my heart. This miraculous community has challenged and inspired me over the last decade. It's because of what Pipeline, our artists, and our supporters have taught me that I feel ready to take a step into the unknown and start a new adventure. While I will be stepping down from my role as Artistic Director, I will remain a member of the Pipeline ensemble and board and am excited to watch and support as the company continues to grow and flourish.

In 2018, Pipeline Theatre Company presented the world premiere of Folk Wandering, a new musical conceived by Jaclyn Backhaus (Men on Boats) and Andrew Neisler (Clown Bar) and directed by Andrew Neisler. Featuring a book by Backhaus; music by collaborating composers Blake Allen (Boston|Nebraska), Backhaus, Mike Brun (Music Director, Mr. Burns), Andrew R. Butler (Finn the Fearless), Joel Esher (PharmaBro: an American Douchical!), Alex Fast (The Drawer Boy), Jo Lampert (Joan of Arc: Into The Fire), Barrie Mclain (Hundred Days), Annie Tippe (Director, Ghost Quartet), and Dominique Toney ( Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ); and lyrics by Allen, Backhaus, Brun, Butler, Esher, Lampert, McLain, and Tippe, Folk Wandering opened March 2, 2018 and due to popular demand, extended through March 25, 2018 at the Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T./ New York Theatres.

To post a comment, you must register and login.