Baltimore Center Stage will host a world premiere for a new work from Ain't No Mo' playwright and star Jordan E. Cooper later this year, with Oh Happy Day! set to take the Maryland company's stage beginning September 19. Opening night will be September 27.
The production will reunite Cooper with Ain't No Mo' director (and BCS Artistic Director) Stevie Walker Webb, who will be at the helm. Cooper will star in the reimagining of the Biblical story of Noah's Ark, reset to begin at a birthday barbecue in Laurel, Mississippi. The production will feature original music by Donald Lawrence, with performances continuing through October 13.
The world premiere is being presented in association with The Public Theater, indicating that a New York Off-Broadway engagement is likely for the work.
The production will open BCS' 2024-2025 season, which has been announced in full. Next up will be Kate Hamill's Pride and Prejudice, adapted from the Jane Austen novel and to be directed by Ken-Matt Martin. The production, produced in association with Arkansas Repertory Theatre, will run October 17-November 10 with opening night set for October 19.
For the holiday season, BCS will present ArtsCentrics's production of Langston Hughes' Black Nativity, featuring original music by Cedric D. Lyles and choreography by Shalyce Hemby. Kevin S. McAllister will direct, with performances running November 30-December 23. Opening night is December 7.
Moving into 2025, Sarah Mantell's Everything That Never Happened will make an East Coast premiere February 13-March 9, 2025, with opening night set for February 21. A mixture of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and Jewish history, the work follows Jessica and Lorenzo as they attempt to escape Jessica's father's house, the Venetian ghetto, and her entire culture.
Next will be the stage adaptation of Akeelah and the Bee, written by Cheryl L. West from Doug Atchison's screenplay. Jerrica D. White will direct the story following the young spelling bee competitor, with performances running March 20-April 13. Opening night will be March 28.
The season will close with the world premiere of Matthew Weiner's John Wilkes Booth: One Night Only!, running May 15-June 15 and opening May 23. Webb will also stage this production, written by the nine-time Emmy winner and former Mad Men and The Sopranos writer, centered on the infamous failed stage actor and presidential assassin. Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age) will star in the title role.
Season tickets are available at CenterStage.org. Single tickets will go on sale this summer. Further casting and creative teams are to be announced.
