'THE DEVIL'S MUSIC' Plays Tonight at On Stage at Kingsborough in Brooklyn

On Stage at Kingsborough is pleased to present The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, directed by Joe Brancato (Cobb) and starring Miche Braden, tonight, November 8, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. This performance is an exclusive Brooklyn engagement.

"We are delighted to present the brilliantly powerful jazz vocalist, Miche Braden, playing Bessie Smith - a role that requires the chops, the wit, and just plain brass that only Ms. Braden could pull off," stated Anna Becker, Executive Director of On Stage at Kingsborough. "This show will knock our audience's socks off for its musical and theatrical wow factor."

Drama Desk Nominee!

THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH

A Musical Play by Angelo Parra

Musical Direction and Arrangements by Miche Braden

Conceived and Directed by Joe Brancato

Saturday, November 8 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $30/25.

The Devil's Music takes you back to a 1937 Memphis "buffet flat" where the partying, laughter, and bawdiness reach a crescendo after Bessie and her band are turned away by a whites-only theatre. This Drama Desk-nominated musical play delivers an electrifying, unforgettable, and surprisingly touching portrait of the "Empress of the Blues" that explodes with the best of the songs that she made famous, including "St. Louis Blues," "Baby Doll," and "Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do." Joe Brancato was cited by The New York Times as "one of America's most insightful directors." His credits include the Drama Desk-winning Cobb, produced by Kevin Spacey and The Big Swing, starring Madeline Kahn, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, and Marisa Tomei. Miche Braden, the founder and former lead singer of the women's jazz band Straight Ahead, was a protégé of Motown musicians Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Earl Van Dyke, and jazz master composer Harold McKinney.

Joe Brancato was cited by The New York Times as "one of America's most insightful directors." His credits include the Drama Desk-winning Cobb, produced by Kevin Spacey; Escape from Happiness, starring Marsha Mason; and The Big Swing, starring Madeline Kahn, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, and Marisa Tomei. Miche Braden, the founder and former lead singer of the women's jazz band Straight Ahead, was a protégé of Motown musicians Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Earl Van Dyke, and jazz master composer Harold McKinney.

Post-performance discussion with the director and cast.

Box Office Location: On Stage at Kingsborough box office, Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Boulevard (cross street: Oxford), Brooklyn, NY. There is ample, free parking on the campus. Box Office Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. By Phone: (718) 368-5596. Online: www.OnStageAtKingsborough.org (video/audio links for concerts available.)

DIRECTIONS: By Car: AMPLE, FREE PARKING is available and we are just minutes from Exit 8 off the Belt Parkway. By Bus: Take the B1 or B49 bus straight to our gates. By Subway: Take the B, Q, F, D, or N and transfer to the B1 bus for a short ride to our gates.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: On Stage At Kingsborough brings artistically and culturally diverse, multi-disciplinary performances from masters of the form to the varied communities within and surrounding the college. We strive to create an environment where the arts are an accessible and integral part of life, and the Arts Center is a community gathering place for interaction and inspiration. We offer performances in theatre, dance, and music, as well as family shows. Our school-time shows welcome classes from local public and private schools, a majority of which serves economically-disadvantaged or special needs populations. The 2014-2015 season reflects our commitment to present world-class artists in exclusive Brooklyn engagements. The season of classic and classical performing arts offers performances by companies who set the standard in their field at prices that are a fraction of what audiences would pay elsewhere.

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