Longest-Running African American Musical In NY History to Appear On Channel 4's 'New York Live' Tomorrow

The longest-running African American musical in New York history, SISTAS: THE MUSICAL, will be the main segment on WNBC's "New York Live" tomorrow(Tuesday) at 11:30 am. The co-host of Channel 4's highly popular lifestyle show, Jacque Reid, pretaped an interview at the theatre with two of the stars of SISTAS,Haley Swindal and Nesha Ward. Produced by three-time Tony winner Hinton Battle and directed by Kenneth Ferrone ("Smash," "Grease Live!"), SISTAS: THE MUSICAL opened Off-Broadway October 23, 2011. The show was released on DVD and digital download (iTunes, Netflix) by RLJ Worldwide/One Village Entertainment in 2013, and has been nationally broadcast on the BET Network.

SISTAS: THE MUSICAL, by Dorothy Marcic, follows a group of sisters as they prepare to bury the matriarch of their family. While cleaning out her attic, the five women reflect on the history of their family and of African-American women through popular music spanning from Ma Rainey to Billie Holiday to Mary J. Blige to Beyoncé. This joyous, soulful and screamingly funny show celebrates the evolution of African American women through popular music including "Oh Happy Day," "Mama Said," "I Will Survive," "Tyrone," "I Am Not My Hair," and "A Woman's Worth."

Featured in the cast are Tyla Collier (SPAMALOT and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Paper Mill), Aneesa Folds (THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS, RAGTIME), Kendra Lynn Lucas (HAIRSPRAY, GODSPELL), Haley Swindal (Broadway's JEKYLL & HYDE, THE SECRET GARDEN at Lincoln Center), and Nesha Ward ("Orange is the New Black," "Show Me a Hero"), with choreography by Lauren Lim Jackson and musical direction by Zachary Ryan.

Writer Dorothy Marcic also created the hit musical SISTAS, the longest-running African American musical in New York history, now in its seventh smash year. Her first musical RESPECT (the genesis for THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS) played in over 70 U.S. cities. Dr. Marcic is a professor at Columbia University, a former Fulbright Scholar and author of 15 books including MANAGING WITH THE WISDOM OF LOVE, RESPECT: WOMEN AND POPULAR MUSIC, LOVE LIFT ME HIGHER, and the upcoming true-life thriller WITH ONE SHOT.

Now in its seventh smash year, SISTAS: THE MUSICAL is produced Off-Broadway by Hinton Battle, Jay Harris and William Franzblau. Performances are Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30 pm at St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46 Street (just west of Eighth Ave.) and tickets are available through www.SistastheMusical.com 212-239-6200.

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