New Stew and Heidi Rodewald Musical The Total Bent Begins Off-Broadway Run

The curtain is going up on the Public Theater's world premiere of The Total Bent, a new musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange) which begins performances on February 24. The Public Lab work-in-progress presentation will be directed by Joanna Settle and run at the downtown venue through March 18.

The Total Bent tells the story of a black gospel prodigy from down South and a white music producer from South London who meet in a recording studio just south of the Twilight Zone, as they both desperately seek their own versions of transcendence, salvation and a hit record. Divine inspiration, fantastical visions and a legendary music producer father frame this new musical about the complicated space between the sacred and the profane.

Now in its fifth season, Public Lab series offers its artists a new platform to further develop their work on stage and in performance. By focusing on scaled-down productions (shorter rehearsal periods and smaller budgets), Public Lab is able to offer audiences access to all Lab shows at affordable prices.