Joshua Henry to Join 10 Original Cast Members in Broadway Transfer of The Scottsboro Boys

Initial casting has been announced for the Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys, which will include Joshua Henry (American Idiot, In the Heights, The Wiz at Encores) in the central role of Haywood Patterson alongside 10 members of the musical’s original off-Broadway cast. The show will begin previews at the Lyceum Theatre on October 7 and open on October 31, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.

Joining Henry will be Sean Bradford as Ozie Powell and Ruby Bates, Josh Breckenridge as Olen Montgomery, Derrick Cobey as Andy Wright, Colman Domingo as Mr. Bones, Rodney Hicks as Clarence Norris, Kendrick Jones as Willie Roberson, Forrest McClendon as Mr. Tambo, Julius Thomas III as Roy Wright, Sharon Washington as The Lady and Christian Dante White as Charles Weems and Victoria Price.

Henry replaces original cast member Brandon Victor Dixon, who has signed on to play Ray Charles in the forthcoming Broadway musical Unchain My Heart. Casting for the roles of The Interlocutor (played off-Broadway by John Cullum) and Eugene Williams (Cody Ryan Wise) will be announced soon.

Fearturing a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb and a book by David Thompson, The Scottsboro Boys is based on the notorious "Scottsboro" case in the 1930s, in which nine African-American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime. The show opened off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. on March 10 and closed on April 18, 2010. Prior to Broadway, The Scottsboro Boys will play a limited engagement at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, July 31-September 25.

The creative team includes set design by Beowulf Borritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Ken Billington and sound design by Peter Hylenski. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman, with musical arrangements by Glen Kelly and music direction by David Loud.

The Scottsboro Boys will be produced on Broadway by Barry and Fran Weissler, Jacki Barlia Florin and the Vineyard Theatre.