New musical American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words completes its run on the Kreeger Theater stage at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage August 28. Previews for the historical show began July 15 ahead of its official July 28 opening.
Exploring the lives of Frederick and Anna Douglass, the cast stars Cornelius Smith Jr. (Scandal) and Broadway alum Kristolyn Lloyd (Dear Evan Hansen) as the freedom-fighting couple. American Prophet uses Douglass' speeches and writings to bring the nationally and internationally renowned couple to the stage.
Other Broadway veterans are also featured in the cast, including Cicily Daniels (Broadway’s Once on This Island), Chris Roberts (The Civil War), Correy West (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations), and Curtis Wiley (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations). They are joined by Carolyn Agan (Arena Stage Cabaret Nights), Erica Aubrey (Far From Heaven), Kurt Boehm (Carousel), Zoë Bryant (Flying West), Christopher B. Portley (Antigone), Christopher Michael Richardson (A Strange Loop), Brendon Schaefer (P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical), Thomas Adrian Simpson (Disney’s Newsies), and Kanysha Williams (Drumfolk).
Randolph-Wright directs the musical, which features a book by Frederick Douglass, Grammy winner Marcus Hummon, and Charles Randolph-Wright (Trouble in Mind, Motown the Musical), with music and lyrics by Hummon. Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., great-great-great grandson of Frederick and Anna Douglass and great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington, serves as a consultant on the production.
Serving on the creative team are choreographer Lorna Ventura, set designer Arnulfo Maldonado, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Rui Rita, sound designer Dan Moses Schreier, associate music director Paul Byssainthe, Jr., dramaturgs Jocelyn Clarke and Otis Ramsey-Zoe, and hair, wig, and makeup designer Mia Neal. Music direction, orchestrations, and additional arrangements are by Joseph Joubert, and casting is by Tara Rubin Casting and Joseph Pinzon. Rachael Danielle Albert serve as stage manager, with Marne Anderson and Alex Murphy as assistant stage managers.
American Prophet is produced by special arrangement with producer Reggie Hill and executive producers Kathleen O’Brien and ShowTown Productions. It kicks off the theatre's "Surviving and Thriving" season for 2022-2023.
For tickets and more information, visit ArenaStage.org.
