Curran Theatre Welcomes FELA!, 11/15-12/11

SHN is thrilled to announce FELA! as the 7th and final show in SHN's upcoming 2011-2012 Season. FELA! , directed by Bill T. Jones, is a provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. The show has become an international sensation having been performed in three continents. FELA! will play November 15 - December 11 at San Francisco's Curran Theatre (445 Geary Street) which operates under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets for FELA! are currently available by subscribing to SHN's 2011-2012 Season. Individual tickets will go on sale in late September. Click here to see Carole Shorenstein Hays announce FELA!

Recognized as an icon in the international world of rock and roll, soul, jazz and hip-hop, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, north of Lagos in 1938. Kuti found his authentic musical voice adding elements of traditional Yoruba, high life and jazz, giving rise to "Afrobeat". Through his music he condemned military regimes in Nigeria for their mismanagement, and marginalization of the underprivileged. He produced over 70 albums during his career. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's visionary staging, FELA! reveals Kuti's controversial life as an artist and political activist and celebrates his pioneering music.

The production received its world premiere Off-Broadway in September 2008, and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in November 2009 where its accolades included three 2010 Tony Awards®, for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, and an Astaire Award for Bill T. Jones' choreography.

Next for FELA! was London's National Theatre where it played a three month sold out run and was nominated for several Olivier Awards. In April FELA!'s Broadway company travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, home of Fela Kuti-it was the first Broadway cast to play in this city. The cast of the production playing San Francisco includes the best of the Broadway and London companies.
FELA! is directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, and music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, the design and Tony Award winning costumes are by Marina Draghici, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and the Tony Award winning sound design by Robert Kaplowitz.

FELA! is produced in association with Shawn ‘Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment and with Ahmir ‘Questlove' Thompson.

 

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