UPDATE, with production dates: Imitation of Life, the new musical with a book by Lynn Nottage, music and lyrics by John Legend, and direction by Liesl Tommy will begin performances on Wednesday, September 9, at The Griffin Theater at The Shed Off Broadway.
A co-production of The Shed and National Black Theatre, Imitation of Life will play a strictly limited four- week presentation engagement through Sunday, October 4.
In the announcement today, the production was described as The Shed’s “first major step in nurturing and developing a new American musical. The musical will be performed with full cast and live orchestra.
Additional details including casting, design and creative team members will be announced at a later date.
PREVIOUS, February 12: A new stage adaptation of the Fannie Hurst novel Imitation of Life, featuring music and lyrics by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner John Legend and a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, will premiere at the Off Broadway venue The Shed this coming fall, producers announced today.
Liesl Tommy (Eclipsed) will direct. The Shed staging at its Griffin Theater is a co-production with National Black Theatre.
Additional details for the limited engagement including casting, design and creative teams and production dates will be announced at later.
The musical is based on both the 1933 novel and the famed 1934 and 1959 Universal Pictures adaptations. The ’33 film directed by John M. Stahl starred Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington and Rochelle Hudson; Douglas Sirk’s 1959 version starred Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner.
The synopsis: “Imitation of Life follows two single mothers, one Black and one White, as well as their daughters, who build a shared life while each strives for success and love in a society divided by race and class. Set across the vibrant backdrop of 1920s Atlantic City and 1930s New York, this new, profoundly moving musical explores themes of identity, the American Dream, and what we leave for future generations.”
In a joint statement, Nottage, Legend and Tommy said today: “Originally published in 1933, novelist Fannie Hurst’s Imitation of Life tells the story of two women, one Black and one white, struggling to raise their daughters in a world shaped by inequalities. While the novel’s narrative is very much a product of its time, its themes of race, class, and gender in America continue to resonate today. As artists, we are drawn to Imitation of Life’s enduring emotional power and its potential to be reimagined in ways that feel both contemporary and urgent. It has been a profound joy to collaborate on bringing this story to the stage, and we are thrilled to premiere this musical at The Shed, where we look forward to sharing the beautiful and deeply moving journey of Delilah and Peola Johnston with audiences.”
The project marks Legend’s first major musical stage endeavor as a composer. He was a producer on both Ain’t Too Proud in 2019 and Jitney in 2017, and contributed the song “(I Guess I) Miss You” to SpongeBob SquarePants in 2017.
