How Sweet the Sound: Complete Cast Set for Broadway-Bound Amazing Grace, Starring Josh Young

The cast is now set for the the world premiere of Amazing Grace, the new Broadway-bound musical that begins performances in Chicago this fall. As previously announced, Tony nominee Josh Young will lead the cast alongside Erin Mackey, Tony nominee Tom Hewitt, Tony winner Chuck Cooper, Chris Hoch, Stanley Bahorek, Harriet D. Foy and Laiona Michelle. Performances will begin at the Bank of America Theatre on October 9 and continue through November 2. Opening night is set for October 19. The musical, featuring music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Smith and Arthur Giron, will be directed by Gabriel Barre and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli. The production is eyeing a Broadway transfer (dates and theater to be announced) following the Chicago engagement.

The ensemble will include Marija Abney, Leslie Becker, Sara Brophy, Rheaume Crenshaw, Miquel Edson, Mike Evariste, Sean Ewing, Rachael Ferrera, Savannah Frazier, Christopher Gurr, Abdur-Rahim Jackson, Allen Kendall, Elizabeth Ward Land, Michael Dean Morgan, Oneika Phillips, Clifton Samuels, Gavriel Savit, Dan Sharkey, Bret Shuford, Evan Alexander Smith, Uyoata Udi, Charles E. Wallace, Toni Elizabeth White and Hollie E. Wright.

Amazing Grace tells the true story behind the beloved song. In the musical, John Newton (Young), a willful and musically talented Englishman, finds himself torn between following in the in the footsteps of his slave trader father and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett (Mackey).

Young, who is currently starring in the role of Che in the national tour of Evita, made his Broadway debut in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he received a Tony nomination. Mackey most recently appeared on Broadway in Chaplin; her additional credits include Anything Goes, Sondheim on Sondheim and Wicked. Hewitt received a Tony nod for The Rocky Horror Show; he has also appeared on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar, The Boys from Syracuse The Lion King and Chicago. Cooper, whose Broadway credits include Act One, Romeo and Juliet, Finian’s Rainbow and Caroline, or Change, took home a Tony for The Life.