Tag Archives: Cleavant Derricks

Rock The Tonys: Tony Award winners at The Rep

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Will Trice at the 2014 Tony Awards

The 72nd Tony Awards take place on Sunday, June 10 at Radio City Music Hall (broadcast on CBS).

Over the years, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre has had several Tony winner work on stage and backstage.

Among these are:

Jason Alexander – In 1989, he won the Tony Award for Actor in a Musical for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. The play Windfall, which closed the Rep’s 2015-2016 season, was directed by Alexander.

Bill Berloni – One of the 2011 Tony Honors went to Berloni, who has made a career out of training animals for the stage. It started with the original 1977 Tony winning Annie. He put his skills to work at the Arkansas Rep in 2013 for the musical Because of Winn Dixie.

Cleavant Derricks – The 1982 Tony ceremony recognized Derricks with the Featured Actor in a Musical award for his role as James “Thunder” Earley in the original production of Dreamgirls. 31 years later he appeared in the Arkansas Rep production of Treasure Island.

Remmel Dickinson – As a producer, Dickinson has won Tony Awards in 2009 for The Norman Conquests (Revival of a Play), Memphis (Musical) and War Horse (Play). In 2014, he produced Memphis at the Rep.

Ann Duquesnay – At the 50th Tony Awards in 1996, Ms Duquesnay won the Featured Actress in a Musical for Bring in ‘da Noise/Bring in ‘da Funk. (She was also nominated for contributing to the show’s score.). In 1999, she starred at the Rep in Cookin’ at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter.

Peter Schneider – The 1998 Tony for Best Musical went to The Lion King. Peter Schneider was the Disney executive who led the effort to produce it. In 2013, he directed Pal Joey at the Arkansas Rep.

Will Trice – In 1994, Trice appeared on the Rep stage as a young actor in the production of Lost in Yonkers. As an adult, he has received Tony Awards as a Broadway producer, including: Porgy and Bess (2012 Revival of a Musical), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2013 Play Revival) and All the Way (2014 Play). He has received five additional producing nominations.

In addition, both Tony winning actress Jane Alexander and Tony winning producer Rocco Landesman each appeared on the Arkansas Rep stage as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts in conjunction with appearances in Little Rock.

The fact that the Arkansas Repertory Theatre has been able to work with theatre artists of this calibre is a testament to the quality of work it has produced.  Giving the opportunity for Arkansas audiences to have this interaction without leaving the state is one of the values of the Rep.

Repertorium Praeter Theatrum

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Cleavant Derricks

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Rock the TonysCleavant Derricks webCLEAVANT DERRICKS

Little Rock connection: Starred in the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s production of the new musical Treasure Island.

Tony Awards connection: Won the 1982 Featured Actor in a Musical Tony for his performance as James “Thunder” Early in the original cast of Dreamgirls.  In 1986, he was nominated for a Tony for Actor in a Musical for his performance in Big Deal.

Today is Derrick’s birthday.

TREASURE ISLAND starts world premiere at Rep

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ATreasure-Island world premiere musical adaptation of Treasure Island has dropped anchor at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

This new musical offers a fresh take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasure hungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure.

Bored by his mundane life at the Admiral Benbow Inn, and entranced by the mysterious Captain Billy Bones and his wild seafaring tales, young Jim Hawkins yearns for a life of adventure. His wish is soon granted as members of the infamous Captain Flint crew pursue Bones and his hidden treasure map.

When Bones dies in a struggle for the map, Jim narrowly escapes with his life and Bones’ prize possession. With a sturdy crew in place led by Long John Silver, and with Jim under the protection of a doctor, a nobleman and a stoic ship’s captain, they set sail in search of their fortunes. As greed escalates, mutiny threatens and loyalties are forever broken.

The production is directed and choreographed by Brett Smock who also co-authored the libretto with Carla Vitale.  The songs are written by Corinne Aquilina who also serves as music director.

The cast is led by Logan Rowland, Richard B. Watson, Kristy Cates and Tony winner Cleavant Derricks.  Others in the cast include Gregory Butler, Mark Campbell, Christopher Carl, Matt Farcher, Eric Gunhus, David Hess, Michael Thomas Holmes, Patrick Richwood and Cross Brandon.

The creative team includes Frederick Alden Terry (orchestrator), Stanley A. Meyer (scenery), Rafael Colon Castanera (costumes), Dan Ozminkowski (lighting), Lynda J. Kwallek (props), Allan Branson (sound) and D. C. Wright (fight choreography).  Robert Hupp is the producing artistic director of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Treasure Island starts previews tonight and opens officially on Friday, March 8.  Performances continue through Sunday, March 31.