Something Rotten's Brooks Ashmanskas & More Will Shuffle Along to the Music Box on Broadway

Current Something Rotten star Brooks Ashmanskas and more will complete the cast of Shuffle Along, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed. Starring Audra McDonald, the production will begin performances on March 14, 2016 at the Music Box Theatre. Opening night is set for April 21.

Also boarding the cast will be Felicia Boswell, Amber Iman, Adrienne Warren, Phillip Attmore, Darius de Haas, C.K. Edwards, Afra Hines, Curtis Holland, Adrienne Howard, Kendrick Jones, Lisa LaTouche, Alicia Lundgren, J.C. Montgomery, Erin N. Moore, Janelle Neal, Brittany Parks, Arbender Robinson, Karissa Royster, Britton Smith, Zurin Villanueva, Christian Dante White, J.L. Williams, Pamela Yasutake and Richard Riaz Yoder. As previously reported, Billy Porter, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Joshua Henry and Brandon Victor Dixon are also on board.

The show, which bills itself as a revival, combines the 1921 musical Shuffle Along with the backstory of the people who brought it to life, including the songwriting team Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and bookwriters Aubrey Lyles and F.E. Miller. Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk collaborators George C. Wolfe and Savion Glover will reunite to direct and choreograph, respectively. Wolfe will also pen the new book.

Shuffle Along first played Broadway and became a runaway hit in May of 1921. The show, which was expected to become an immediate flop following a back-breaking pre-Broadway tour, ended up playing for 504 performance. The story follows two friends who both run for mayor in fictional Jimtown, USA. One wins and the other is appointed chief of police, but as they fight, their opponent plots to drive them out. The original production featured the talents of such soon-to-be theatrical stalwarts as Josephine Baker, Paul Robeson and Lottie Gee.