Roughly Speaking, a new play with rap by Shara Ashley Zeiger based on over 200 interviews with homeless individuals in New York City, will be presented at Tada Theater October 29-November 20.

Directed by Celine Rosenthal, the cast will feature Franz Jones (Broadway’s Big River), Danny Bolero (Broadway’s In the Heights, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Christopher Michael McLamb, Steven J. Michel, Michael Twain (European tour of West Side Story), Madeline McCray, Troy Valjean Rucker (national tour, Jesus Christ Superstar), Shara Ashley Zeiger and Joanie Anderson.

Roughly Speaking, according to press notes, “depicts a world we often walk by through the eyes of Lightning Bolt, a rapper bound only by his wheelchair on a not so typical day at the soup kitchen. An existential struggle of survival begs questions of love, loss, and what's next. Roughly Speaking is a play with rap about those who are caught in a system which exists more to maintain the status quo, rather than offer a way out.”

The production will also have set design by Joseph Napolitano, lighting design by Sophie Talmadge Silleck and costume design by Shirlee Idzakovich.

Roughly Speaking is presented by The Platform Group, in cooperation with Xavier Mission.

All Sunday and Wednesday performances will include a post-show talk back featuring members of the cast and creative team, along with experts on homelessness, community partners and volunteer staff of Xavier Mission’s Welcome Table Soup Kitchen.

Show times are Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are priced $25 with $3 from each ticket sold going towards purchasing backpacks for the homeless.

Tada Theater is located at 15 West 28th Street. For tickets call (212) 868-4444 or visit theplatformgroup.org.