The life and music of reggae legend Bob Marley will be celebrated in a brand new musical production set to debut in Baltimore, Maryland next month. Entitled, simply, Marley, the live production will feature some of his greatest hits and focus on the 1970s, in which Marley made a return to Jamaica after living in London for two years following an assassination attempt. The musical was written and directed by British playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, and Billboard reports that albums including Exodus, Kaya and Rastaman Vibration will figure prominently in its program.
Marley will open May 7th at Baltimore's Center Stage theater and is scheduled to run through June 14th. Actor and talented singer Mitchell Brunings will play the title role. "When I first saw the YouTube clip of Mitchell singing ‘Redemption Song’ on ‘The Voice,’ I was mesmerized. I jumped on a plane and dashed to Holland to see him immediately. Having auditioned actors around the world for this role, I knew right away that he was a natural,” Kwei-Armah told BobMarley.com. “His soulful, gorgeous voice and deep respect for Bob’s music and life make him the perfect fit for this production. For the last year, we’ve been assembling the cast and crew for this show, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with our team.”
And now, that cast and crew includes Fela! veteran Saycon Sengbloh playing Rita Marley and young talent Mykal Kilgore stepping into the part of Stevie Wonder. With music direction by Jason Webb and choreography headed by Germaul Barnes, Marley will mark the first time that Bob Marley's life and art are given a full and proper dramatic tribute. Stay tuned for more information on scheduling and tickets as soon as they're made available.
