Watch Awa Sal Secka Perform Duke Ellington's 'Mood Indigo' in Signature's Play On! | Playbill

Video Watch Awa Sal Secka Perform Duke Ellington's 'Mood Indigo' in Signature's Play On!

Lili-Anne Brown directs with choreography by Breon Arzell.

Signature Theatre's production of the 1997 Broadway musical Play On!, which began performances August 12, will continue through October 5 in the MAX Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.

Watch Awa Sal Secka (Goddess), who plays Lady Liv, perform "Mood Indigo" in the video above, and check out other highlights from the limited engagement in the video below.

Directed by Lili-Anne Brown with choreography by Breon Arzell and music direction by Jermaine Hill, the cast also features Wesley J. Barnes (A Wonderful World) as Jester, Chuckie Benson as Rev, Alana S. Thomas as CC, Derrick D. Truby Jr. as Sweets, Greg Watkins as Duke, Jalisa Williams as Vy, and Kanysha Williams as Miss Mary with ensemble members Bryan Archibald, Montel B. Butler, Ciara Hargrove, Divine Iweha, Vaughn Ryan Midder, Kalen Robinson, and Sean Walton plus swings Jared Martin and Tierra London Rush.

Conceived by Sheldon Epps (Blues in the Night) with a book by Cheryl L. West and music by Duke Ellington, Play On! is based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. The musical follows songwriter Vy, who comes to 1930s Harlem to make it big, but when she discovers the doors of opportunity are closed to women, she disguises herself as a man to pitch her songs to Harlem’s hottest composer, the Duke. The production features such Ellington classics as “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Mood Indigo” “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing.”

Play On! is one of those rarely produced musicals that makes you immediately wonder ‘why isn’t this delightful show better known,’ and I have wanted to direct it for years,” said director Brown in an earlier statement. “I am so thrilled to introduce this witty, charming musical comedy to audiences in the D.C. area. Get ready for some classic romantic comedy in a gorgeous historic setting, top it all off with this incredible score of Duke Ellington songs, and you have a recipe for a fantastic night at Signature Theatre!”

The production also has scenic design by Dan Conway, costume design by Samantha C. Jones, lighting design by Jason Lynch, sound design by Eric Norris, and hair and wig design by LaShawn Melton with orchestrations by Luther Henderson and casting by Charlotte La Nasa. John “Ray” Proctor is the dramaturg.

Kerry Epstein is the production stage manager, and Taryn Friend, Jamie Berry, and Jessica Hagy are the assistant stage managers.

Visit SigTheatre.org.

 
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