Have you got those Broadway Blues? Shake ’em away September 27 at the all-star reunion of Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.
Shuffle Along, which kickstarted the Harlem Renaissance in 1921, was one of the first commercially successful mainstream all-Black Broadway sensations. In 2016, the musical was partially revived under the extensive title above, using the music of the original to explore the history of the original production. That production, which was hailed by fans but overshadowed by Hamilton’s premiere, will return to the stage for one night only in a special concert staging at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater.
Shuffle Along made its groundbreaking debut at the 63rd Street Music Hall near San Juan Hill in 1921 and was the first Broadway hit with an all-Black cast and creative team. Blending elements of ragtime, jazz, and traditional European operetta, it helped usher in a thriving era of Black creativity that continues to have ripple effects to this day.
The 2016 version features the electrifying original songs by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and portions of Shuffle Along’s original book by F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles, with additional music and lyrics by Daryl Waters and George C. Wolfe, and choreography by Savion Glover. With music at its center, this concert reunites members of the star-studded 2016 Broadway cast to celebrate the brilliance, legacy, and enduring influence of Shuffle Along on Broadway and beyond.
Staged as a part of the Legacies of San Juan Hill Festival, Shuffle Along will feature stars Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Adrienne Warren, and Brandon Victor Dixon returning, along with Norm Lewis stepping in for Joshua Henry and other to-be-announced cast members. The concert will, like the 2016 revival, be directed by Wolfe and will feature acclaimed tap dancer and choreographer Savion Glover.
For more information on the full festival, visit LincolnCenter.org.