Off-Broadway NewsGet a 1st Look at Reimagined Pal Joey Revival, Opening With a Gala Performance November 1
Ephraim Sykes stars in the Savion Glover–choreographed New York City Center production.
By
Logan Culwell-Block
November 01, 2023
New York City Center's reimagined revival of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's Pal Joey begins its run with a gala performance November 1 at the Manhattan venue. Performances will continue through November 5. Tony Goldwyn and Savion Glover are co-directing, with Glover choreographing. Get a first look at the revival with newly released production shots below.
Glover is also performing in the production's ensemble, alongside Krystina M. Burton, Taylor Marie Daniel, Marshall L. Davis Jr., Dormeisha, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Jarvis B. Manning Jr., Jodeci Milhouse, Natonia Monét, Brittany Nicole Parks, and Allysa Shorte. Rounding out the company are covers Mary Antonini, Rory Shirley, and Darius Wright.
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Photos: Ephraim Sykes, Elizabeth Stanley, Aisha Jackson, More Star in Pal Joey at New York City Center
The new take on the 1940 musical features a new book by Richard LaGravenese and Daniel "Koa" Beaty, based on John O'Hara's original book adapted from his novel. In the works since at least 2021 when it was announced that Glover and Goldwyn were working with LaGravenese on a new Broadway-bound revival, this new version reportedly reimagines its title character as a Black jazz singer trying to make it on the Chicago nightclub circuit, and newly interpolates Rodgers and Hart songs from other works, including “Where or When,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “My Heart Stood Still,” “Falling in Love With Love,” and “There’s a Small Hotel.”
Daryl Waters leads the music team for the revival as music supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator, with Alvin Hough Jr. serving as music director. Glover has also been credited with "additional arranged orchestrology." Kimberlee Wertz is music coordinator, with Jason Liebson serving as score coordinator. Josh Clayton is director of music administration and score restoration.
Filmed in 2023, the one-night-only event featured Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Peter Friedman, and more from the Ahrens and Flaherty musical's original cast.