Brandon Victor Dixon Wins the Role of Ray Charles in Broadway Musical Bio Unchain My Heart
Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, a standout in the recent off-Broadway musical The Scottsboro Boys, will star as music legend Ray Charles in the previously announced Broadway musical biography Unchain My Heart. Featuring a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog) and direction by Sheldon Epps, the show will begin previews on October 8 and open on November 7 at a Shubert theater to be announced.
Dixon will be joined by Nikki Renee Daniels as Ray’s wife Della, Harrison White as Jeff Brown and Tasha Taylor as Margie Hendricks.
Unchain My Heart explores the strength, humor and musical genius of the legendary Ray Charles. One of the greatest pioneering musical artists of all time, Charles mastered everything from soul and rhythm & blues to gospel, jazz, country and pop. Set in his last live recording session, the tuner reveals Charles’ remarkable life story through his own music. Parks weaves together true tales that reveal the spirit of the man whose life and music helped to define soul, and inspired people the world over. Songs featured in the production will include “Georgia on My Mind,” “What’d I Say,” “Mess Around,” “Hit the Road, Jack,” “Unchain My Heart,” “I Got a Woman” and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So.”
Dixon earned a Tony Award nomination for his turn in The Color Purple. Off-Broadway, he has been seen in Encores! House of Flowers and The Scottsboro Boys. Regional credits include Ray Charles Live!, Henry V and Romeo and Juliet. TV credits include Quincy Jones’ American’s Millennium, One Life to Live and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Daniels can currently been seen in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises. Additional credits include Les Miserables, Aida, Nine, The Look of Love, Lestat and Little Shop of Horrors. She has been seen on the regional stage in Caroline or Change, Anything Goes, Ray Charles Live!, Beauty and the Beast, Ragtime and Dorian.
White’s Broadway credits include The Lion King and Sarafina. Off-Broadway he has been seen in A Good Swift Kick and Romance in Hard Times. He starred on London’s West End in Smokey Joe’s Café. Film credits include Se7en and I Got the Hook Up, while TV credits include Modern Family and Viva Laughlin.
Taylor makes her Broadway debut with this production. Various TV and film credits include House, Ugly Betty, Yes Dear, Strip Mall, 7th Heaven, Abby, Moesha and Dimples with Madaline Zima.
Unchain My Heart is presented on Broadway by Stuart Benjamin, who knew and worked with Charles for 15 years and produced the award-winning film Ray. The show will feature choreography by Kenneth L. Roberson, musical arrangements and supervision by Rahn Coleman and orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. The design team includes Riccardo Hernandez (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Donald Holder (lights), Carl Casella (sound) and Charles LaPointe (hair & wig design).
