JOSEPHINE AND I with Cush Jumbo Begins Tonight at The Public Theater

The Public Theater begins previews for the New York premiere of JOSEPHINE AND I tonight, February 27. Written by Olivier nominated actress and writer Cush Jumbo, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, JOSEPHINE AND I runs through Sunday, April 5 at Joe's Pub at The Public, with an official press opening on Tuesday, March 10.

Following a critically acclaimed run at London's Bush Theatre, Cush Jumbo (The River, Julius Caesar, "Getting On") brings her one-woman show to The Public. Born into poverty in the slums of St. Louis, Josephine Baker became one of the most famous and groundbreaking stars of the 20th century. The first African-American performer to rise to international prominence, she was a French Resistance spy and civil rights activist who was married twice by age 16 and served as muse to Pablo Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, who called her "the most sensational woman anyone ever saw." Now, nearly 40 years after her death, Baker's life inspires a young woman to face up to the sacrifices required to follow one's dreams. A performance featuring swinging jazz and ragtime rhythms, this theatrical event directed by Tony nominee Phyllida Lloyd (Julius Caesar, Mary Stuart, The Iron Lady, Mama Mia!) interweaves a modern day story of an ambitious young woman with the fascinating life of the peerless, fearless, Josephine Baker.

Member tickets, starting at $30, and single tickets, starting at $40, are available now by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street. Joe's Pub at The Public serves food nightly but there is no food or drink minimum for JOSEPHINE AND I. The Library at The Public is open nightly for food and drinks, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

This production was originally produced at the Bush Theatre in London. Cush Jumbo is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance of this production.

PHYLLIDA LLOYD (Director). Her London theatre credits include Henry IV (Donmar Warehouse); Julius Caesar (Donmar Warehouse and St Ann's Warehouse, NY); Mary Stuart (Donmar Warehouse, Apollo, and Broadway); The Threepenny Opera; Boston Marriage (Donmar Warehouse); Josephine and I (Bush Theatre); Six Degrees of Separation; Hysteria; Wild East (Royal Court); The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Old Vic Tunnels); The Way of the World; Pericles; What the Butler Saw; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; The Duchess of Malfi (Royal National Theatre); Artists and Admirers; The Virtuoso (RSC); MAMMA MIA! (London, Broadway and worldwide). Her film credits include The Iron Lady (Pathe/DJ Films/ Film Four); MAMMA MIA! (Universal Pictures); Gloriana a Film (Illuminations Films). For the opera, she has directed La Bohème, Medea, Carmen, L'Etoile, Gloriana, Albert Herring, Peter Grimes (Opera North); Macbeth (Paris/ROH); The Handmaid's Tale (Copenhagen, ENO and Toronto); The Carmelites, Verdi Requiem, Rhinegold, Valkyrie, Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods (ENO). For Gloriana a Film, she received an International Emmy, a F.I.P.A. d'Or, and the Royal Philharmonic Society Award. She won the South Bank Show Award for both Mary Stuart (2005) and Peter Grimes (2006). Lloyd was awarded a CBE in 2012.

CUSH JUMBO, currently appearing in The River on Broadway with Hugh Jackman, was presented with the "Emerging Talent Award" at this year's Evening Standard Awards for her self-penned solo show, Josephine and I (which originated at The Bush Theatre in July 2013). She was also nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre" at the Oliver Awards for her performance. That year Jumbo also reprised her role of Marc Antony in an all-female version of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at St. Ann's Warehouse. The show originated at the Donmar Warehouse in London. For her performance, she was also nominated for an Olivier Award. Both productions were directed by acclaimed film and theatre director Phyllida Lloyd. Other theatre awards include "Best Actress" at The Manchester Awards for her performance as Nora in A Doll's House at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester and the prestigious "Ian Charleson Award" for her performance as Rosalind in As You Like It, also at the Royal Exchange. Her television credits include the series lead in the top-rated "Vera" opposite Brenda Blethyn; the acclaimed comedy, "Getting On" (a U.S. version of the show now airs on HBO). Her film credits include the lead role in Remainder (based on the Tom K. McCarthy novel) and the hit feature The Inbetweeners.

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