Broadbend, Arkansas

Theatre
Name: The Duke on 42nd Street
Address: 229 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
Production Information
First performance date: October 25, 2019
Opening date: November 10, 2019
Closing date: November 23, 2019
External Links: Official Website


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Production Description
In Transport Group’s world premiere musical Broadbend, Arkansas, an African-American family grapples with decades of inequality, violence, and suppression in the South. Benny, an orderly at a nursing home, delicately balances his role as a caregiver to an ornery white resident who shares a contentious past with his white boss while at the same time caring for his own family as the fight for equality grips the nation in the midst of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Thirty years later, his daughter, Ruby, struggles to understand an incident of police brutality against her 15-year-old son. This unique musical, spanning nearly half a century and three generations, asks us to contemplate the cycle of violence in this country and how we will find hope and create change against the backdrop of hate that plagues America.
Opening Night Credits

Production Credits
Person/Company Credit
Transport Group Theatre Company Producer
The Public Theater Produced in Association
  
Ellen Fitzhugh Libretto
Harrison David Rivers Libretto
Ted Shen Music
Ted Shen Additional Lyrics
  
Jack Cummings III Director
Sean Seu Assistant Director
  
Peiyi Wong Costume Designer
Jen Schriever Lighting Designer
Walter Trarbach Sound Designer
Katie Friedman Assistant Costume Designer
Alex Fetchko Associate Lighting Designer
Dane Laffrey Scenic Consultant
  
Elliott Cunningham Company Manager
Don Summa Press Representative
  
Jason Hindelang Production Stage Manager
Logan Pratt Assistant Stage Manager
  
Kate Holland Production Manager
William Becker Technical Director
William Becker Associate Production Manager
Randy Cohens Keyboard Programmer
  
Deborah Abramson Conductor
Deborah Abramson Music Direction
Michael Starobin Orchestrations
Randy Landau Bass
Peter Sachon Cellist
Deborah Abramson Piano
Steve Lyon Reeds
Tom Murray Reeds
Sylvia D'Avanzo Violin
  
Nora Brennan Casting Director
Emily Grishman Copyist

Cast
Actor Role
Justin Cunningham Benny
Danyel Fulton Ruby
Awards
Award Person / Company Function
1 NOMINATED 2020 AUDELCO Award, Lead Actor in a Musical Justin Cunningham Actor
2 NOMINATED 2020 AUDELCO Award, Lead Actress in a Musical Danyel Fulton Actor
3 NOMINATED 2020 AUDELCO Award, Best Musical Transport Group Theatre Company Producer
4 NOMINATED 2020 AUDELCO Award, Director of a Musical Jack Cummings III Director
5 NOMINATED 2020 Antonyo Award, Best Original Score    
6 NOMINATED 2020 Antonyo Award, Best Book Harrison David Rivers Libretto
7 NOMINATED 2020 Antonyo Award, Best Actor in a Musical Off-Broadway Danyel Fulton Actor