THEATRE REVIEW: "The Scottsboro Boys" at Stage 773 (Chicago, IL)

      On March 5th, 2017, I saw a performance of the Chicago Premiere Production of the John Kander / Fred Ebb / David Thompson musical "The Scottsboro Boys" at Stage 773 in Chicago, IL.  This was a Porchlight Theatre presentation, so it was different than the Broadway Production and the National Tour that only made a few stops on the West Coast.  "The Scottsboro Boys" was the last collaborative musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb--who created such classics as "Cabaret" and "Chicago."  







     The cast of the Chicago Premiere Production included Stephen Allen, Jos N. Banks, Cynthia Clarey, Cameron Goode, Izaiah Harris, Mark J.P. Hood, James Earl Jones II, Maurice Randle, Jerome Riley, Jr., Trequon Tate, Denzel Tsopnang, Travis Austin Wright, and Larry Yando.  I am not sure who the scenic designer for this production was.  The cast did a great job, but oddly enough, "The Scottsboro Boys" was presented in the style of a minstrel show.  The only difference between this production and an actual minstrel show is that there weren't white actors wearing blackface.  








     This production of "The Scottsboro Boys" ran from February 3rd through March 12th, 2017, so I saw the show during the final two weeks of the production's run.  The staging was pretty elaborate.  I didn't know anything about The Scottsboro Boys prior to seeing the show, so the ending surprised me.  I am glad I got to see the show, but this was not my favorite musical by any means.  If given the opportunity, I don't know if I would see it again.  But I do wish the National Tour had made a stop in Chicago.  Oh well.










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