The writer is descended from the women she is putting on stage, which gives this Western a claim almost no new musical can make. Ross Baum's score is carried by a chorus called the Kinfolk, ancestors who follow the sisters through a story about what America made them do to survive it. If you want the fall's biggest swing at an original Broadway musical rather than another adaptation, start here.
What to expect
A new musical in a mid-sized Broadway house, recently restored and renamed for James Earl Jones, which keeps the band and the voices close. No running time has been published ahead of opening night. Expect a score that moves between gospel, soul and Western idiom, and staging built around a large singing ensemble.
Good to know
- Take the N/Q/R/W to 49 St or the 1 to 50 St; the theatre is on West 48th Street
- Broadway houses generally go dark Mondays; confirm the weekly pattern when you book
- Themes include racial violence and passing, so it suits older teens and adults
- Group bookings of ten or more go through Broadway Inbound rather than the box office
- Preview performances run before opening night, when staging can still change
- No rush or lottery policy was listed for the production when this was written
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Common questions
Is this based on a true story?
It is billed as the mostly true story of sisters Mary and Martha Clarke, and the book writer Angelica Chéri is a descendant of theirs.
Who else is in the cast?
Grammy winner Ledisi plays Tallulah Clarke and Grammy nominee Luke James plays Elijah, alongside Solea Pfeiffer and Liisi LaFontaine.
More this weekend
