Dessa Rose (musical)

Dessa Rose
Music	Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics	Lynn Ahrens
Book	Lynn Ahrens
Basis	novel by Sherley Anne Williams
Productions	2005 Off Broadway 2014 West End

2005 Off Broadway

Dessa Rose is a musical based on the book by Sherley Anne Williams with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. It tells the story of a young black woman and a young white woman and their journey to acceptance in 1847 in the ante-bellum South, as they tell their story to their grandchildren.

Dessa Rose had a workshop in Summer 2003 with Donna Murphy and LaChanze.

Dessa Rose premiered at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center, New York City, from February 17 in previews, officially March 21 to May 29, 2005. The director and choreograher was Graciela Daniele, with Set Design by Loy Arcenas, Costume Design by Toni-Leslie James, Lighting Design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, and Orchestrations by William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke. The cast featured LaChanze as Dessa Rose and Rachel York as Ruth.

A regional production was staged by TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, California, October 7, 2006 through October 29. Linda Mugleston and Carly Hughes were featured.

The New England Premiere was at New Repertory Theatre in 2008. It was directed by Rick Lombardo. Music direction was by Todd Gordon, choreography by Kelli Edwards, fight direction by Meron Langsner, sets by Peter Colao, costumes by Frances Nelson McSherry, and lights by Frank Messiner Jr. It starred Leigh Barret, Uzo Aduba, and Todd Allan Johnson.

The European premiere was at the Trafalgar Studios in London, 29 July to 30 August 2014. The cast included Cynthia Erivo, Cassidy Janson, Edward Baruwa, Sharon Benson and Miquel Brown.

...
Wikipedia