Amas Musical Theatre, the New York City troupe devoted multi-ethnic musical theatre, is putting a concert version of one of its greatest exports, Bubbling Brown Sugar, on the front burner at the John Houseman Theatre on 42nd Street.
Reed sings "God Bless the Child" in the show, which paved the way and set the standard for musical revues that celebrate African-American music, from jazz to gospel. Reed was also Tony nommed in 1992 for The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club.
The evening honors the late Amas founder Rosetta LeNoire, and husband and wife actor-writers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. The cast of the Bubbling revue will include Ebony Jo-Ann (Crowns), Chuck Cooper (The Life), Darius de Haas (Marie Christine, Dreamgirls in concert), Rob Evan (Jekyll & Hyde), Carmen Ruby Floyd (Little Ham, Harlem Song), Maurice Hines (Eubie), Pam Isaacs (The Life), Sir James Randolph (Guys and Dolls), James Stovall (Sweet Charity, Dreamgirls in concert), Maria Torres (Swing), Tamara Tunie (Fox's "24," Dreamgirls in concert) and Lillias White (The Life, Crowns, Dreamgirls). The evening is directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharej, with musical direction by David Alan Bunn.
The evening is under the umbrella title "Blast From the Past" and begins at 6:15 PM with cocktails and a silent auction in the lobby of the John Houseman Theatre, followed by the 7 PM concert.
Tickets are $200 per person for the show and post-party with the cast at the West Bank Cafe, or $100 for the show only. For ticket information, call (212) 563-2565 or visit www.amasmusical.org. The Houseman is at 450 W. 42nd Street. *
Amas was founded by actress-singer-humanitarian LeNoire (1911-2002) in 1968 as a multi-ethnic performing arts organization devoted to new works, non-traditional casting and education. LeNoire was widely known as Mother Winslow on TV's "Family Matters." Amas productions include Bubbling Brown Sugar; Mama, I Want to Sing; Four Guys Named Jose...and una Mujer Named Maria; Rollin' on the TOBA; Starmites 2001; Langston Hughes' Little Ham and Zanna, Don't! (currently in a hot-selling Off-Broadway run). Donna Trinkoff is the producing director of Amas (the name means "you love" in Latin).
Dee and Davis will be honored for their careers and their contribution to Amas. The Rosetta LeNoire Scholarship will be awarded to a student at the benefit.
Bubbling Brown Sugar, in the 1975-76 Broadway season, was Tony Award nominated for Best Musical, Leading Actress in a Musical (for Vivian Reed) and Choreographer (Billy Wilson). A cast album preserved the troupe's work.
