From singer-songwriter and performance artist Stew comes PASSING STRANGE, a daring musical that takes you on a journey across boundaries of place, identity and theatrical convention. Stew brings us the story of a young bohemian who charts a course for "the real" through sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Loaded with soulful lyrics and overflowing with passion, the show takes us from black middle-class America to Amsterdam, Berlin and beyond on a journey towards personal and artistic authenticity. PASSING STRANGE won multiple Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical and a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical in 2008.
"Fresh, exuberant, bracingly inventive, bitingly funny, and full of heart." —NY Times.
"The freshest musical in town! The songs rock harder than anything else on Broadway." —Wall Street Journal.
"Stew tweaks the received wisdom of racial identity as cannily and wittily as any playwright since George C. Wolfe when he unleashed The Colored Museum in 1986." —NY Sun.
-- Hartford Courant
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Broadway World.com
-- The Examiner
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CT Arts Connection/Journal Inquirer
-- New Haven Review
-- Stu on Broadway (blog)
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CT Theater News and Reviews
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Talkin' Broadway
KARISSA HARRIS (Female Ensemble 1) Playhouse on Park: HAIR-The Tribal Love Rock Musical (Tribe/Dionne); Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Crystal); Fulton Theatre: DREAMGIRLS (Michelle), Maine State Music Theatre: HAIRSPRAY (Dynamite), Civic Theatre: RENT (Mimi); LES MISERABLES (Fantine); JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Mary Magdalene); THE WHO'S TOMMY (Mrs. Walker) Other favorite credits include: A CHORUS LINE, RAGTIME THE MUSICAL, GODSPELL, THE DISNEY DREAM, Disney Cruise Line. Karissa is ecstatic to make her return to Playhouse with this phenomenal show!! Originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Karissa received her BA in Theatre from Muhlenberg College and now currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Tynan and their French Bulldog Felony. Many thanks and to congrats to the very talented cast, creative team, and crew! Special thanks to friends and family for their continued love and support!
GARRETT TURNER (Mr. Franklin/Joop/Mr. Venus) Playhouse on Park Debut! York Theatre Company: THE DOVE (Will); New York Musical Theatre Festival: ACAPPELLA THE MUSICAL (Joe Harper); Ivoryton Playhouse: Featured Ensemble MEMPHIS; Rebel Theater Company: THE BALLAD OF TRAYVON MARTIN (Floridian 4). A proud native of Florence, Alabama, Garrett received his Bachelors in Music and Creative Writing from Emory University and his Masters in Music Theatre in London at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama on a Marshall Scholarship. www.garrett-turner.com
SKYLER VOLPE (Female Ensemble 2) Playhouse on Park Debut! En Garde Arts: Featured Performer BOSS FESTIVAL; The Mint Theater: Cap'n Flint DEVIL AND THE DEEP; Signature Theater: Scarlett Faery THE HAG THE SLAG AND THE SCARLETT FAERY; Theater for the New City: Loiza DAUGHTER OF THE WAVES, Benedikte MORE; Connecticut College Theatre: Olive 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. www.skylervolpe.com, always, for Uncle Alan.
J'ROYCE (Ensemble) is grateful and honored for the second opportunity to work on the show that changed his life and to be making his Playhouse on Park debut! NATIONAL TOUR: MEMPHIS. NYC: National Black Theatre of Harlem, LaMama, Roy Arias Theatre. TV/FILM: Royal Pains, Babylon Fields, City of My Dreams Official Music Video for Mary Komasa. REGIONAL THEATRE: Footloose, The Little Mermaid. Love, Light, and gratitude to David, Gregg, and the entire Playhouse family. Follow J'royce @jroyceiam and learn more at jroycedwalton.com. "The only way to become your true self is to create your true self, and turn your life into a work of art."
FAMECIA WARD (Mother) Playhouse on Park Debut! Bruyette Anthenaeum: The Wiz (Dorothy), Hong Kong Disneyland: Festival of The Lion King(Nala), Just completed two films Curse Of War (Sherry), NorthEnd Story (Nani). Currently recording an EP of original music. I want to thank everyone for coming out to support our show. I appreciate you! One Way!!! Our Way...❤
DARRYL JOVAN WILLIAMS (Narrator) Playhouse on Park Debut! Sang for Pope (now Saint ) John Paul II, Bologna, Italy. NYMF Festival's ACAPELLA New York City. The 40th Anniversary of THE WIZ in Central Park. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Gospel Version at the Alliance Theatre. Darryl is presently working on a one man show with the Legendary Timothy Grafenreed. He recently performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY and was a finalist in their famous competition. Thank you to About Artists Agency.
ERIC R. WILLIAMS (Youth) - Playhouse on Park Debut! NYC: The Public: INTO THE WOODS, NYMF: BROADWAY'S EPIC FAIL. Nat'l Tours: 1st Nat'l/Japan: DREAMGIRLS, TheaterworksUSA: THE CIVIL WAR. Regional: Maltz Jupiter Theatre: THE WIZ. Cohoes Music Hall: HAIR. The Studio Theatre: regional premiere of PASSING STRANGE. Eric is a proud graduate of Howard University (BFA Musical Theater). Thanks to The Creator. All love & gratitude to family, friends & supporters, the WAMFam & Playhouse on Park for the amazing opportunity! Live. Laugh. Love.
