Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed 2016
Ages: 6+
Opened: April 28, 2016Closing: July 24, 2016
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 Broadway History , Info & More
Music Box Theatre (Broadway)
239 West 45th St. New York, NY
In May 1921, the new musical Shuffle Along became the unlikeliest of hits, significantly altering the face of the Broadway musical as well as that of New York City. By the time Shuffle Along stumbled into town after a back-breaking pre-Broadway tour, it was deeply in debt and set to open at a remote Broadway house on West 63rd Street. In a season full of spectacles, such as Sally - a Ziegfeld musical - and another edition of George White's Scandals, Shuffle Along's failure was almost a foregone conclusion. New York City was still in the throes of the Depression of 1920. And despite being celebrated vaudeville performers, Miller and Lyles and Sissle and Blake had never performed on Broadway, much less written a musical. But with an infectious jazz score and exuberant dancing, Shuffle Along ignited not just Broadway but all of New York City. George Gershwin, Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, Langston Hughes, and famed critic George Jean Nathan were among the many fans who repeatedly flocked to West 63rd Street to see a cast which - during its run of 504 performances - featured such incipient luminaries as Josephine Baker, Paul Robeson, Florence Mills, Fredi Washington, and Adelaide Hall. Because of Shuffle Along, Uptown and Downtown met and became one.
Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Joshua Henry will star in SHUFFLE ALONG Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, a striking new production that presents both the 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work.
SHUFFLE ALONG will have a new book by George C. Wolfe, will be choreographed by Savion Glover, and directed by Mr. Wolfe. SHUFFLE ALONG marks the first time that the writer/director and choreographer will have worked together since their 1996 hit Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk.
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
'Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed': Theater Review
7 / 10
...the project's strengths far outweigh its flaws. The cast is magnificent. It goes without saying at this point that there's nothing the superhuman McDonald can't do onstage, but rarely do we get to see her cut loose in exuberant comedic mode to the extent she does here...Even beyond her numbers, McDonald kills it with her timing -- every word, look or gesture smacks its target...The four male leads are equally consummate stage artists who go a long way toward finding depth in their underdeveloped characters...even if the structural limitations of Wolfe's undertaking are unable to support the scope of his noble intentions, it's a genuine thrill to watch this outrageously talented cast herald the achievements of a team that brought innovative black artistry to mainstream American theater.
Review: ‘Shuffle Along,’ Broadway musical, is messy but exhilarating
9 / 10
Whether old or new, it is a hot mess of the highest caliber - a dazzling and dizzying documentary mixed with star turns, syncopated rhythms, stylish attire, fierce tap-dancing and weak subplots...For nearly three hours, 'Shuffle Along' throws at its audience nonstop sound and fury and historical detail. It's like climbing aboard a rocket that doesn't stop spinning...But the storytelling is chaotic and choppy, and the characters are painted in broad strokes. The second act, set after the show has become an overnight sensation, comes off as superfluous...McDonald plays it up as an over-the-top diva, while Stokes once again proves himself to be an outstanding leading man...It should come as no surprise that something so experimental and ambitious needs more development.
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Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed History
Other Productions of Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
| 2016 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 Broadway Awards and Nominations
Note: Award winners will appear on a background
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreographer | Savion Glover |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Ann Roth |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Savion Glover |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Ann Roth |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical | Peggy Eisenhauer |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical | Jules Fisher |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical | Scott Lehrer |
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair | Mia M. Neal |
| 2016 | New York Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Musical | Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and all that Followed |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | George C. Wolfe |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Savion Glover |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Ann Roth |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | George C. Wolfe |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Jules Fisher |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Peggy Eisenhauer |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Daryl Waters |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Brandon Victor Dixon |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Adrienne Warren |
| 2016 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Santo Loquasto |
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