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The Last Magic Negro
(or Chad's Great Awokening ✊🏻)
Book | Jamil Ellis & Andrew Fox
Music & Lyrics | Andrew Fox
Based on the show "Magical Negro Speaks by Jamil Ellis
CAST
Jimmy | Darryl J. Williams
Chad | A.J. Holmes
Monique | Simone Zamore
Michael | Anthony Chatmon II
80s Man | Constantine Maroulis
Ensemble Vocals | Andrew Fox, Onyie Nwachukwu
MUSICIANS
Digital Instrumentation | Andrew Fox
Saxophone | Robby Wingfield
Trumpet | Isaac Tubb
Trombone | Kenneth Johnson
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director/Orchestrator/
Sound Design/Tracking/Editing | Andrew Fox
Artistic Supervision/Casting/Editing | Christopher Michaels
Mixing & Mastering | Jay Rosen
Executive Producers | Christopher Michaels & Jeremy Terry
General Manager | Jeremy Terry
RELEASE DATE
Monday, December 7th, 2020
SYNOPSIS
June 7th, 2020. As the Black Lives Matter movement thrusts White corporate middle-manager Chad into unknown territory, he seeks wisdom from Jimmy Bagger, the very last “Magic Negro” (a wise Black character who exists solely to help a white protagonist) on how to end racism. Despite the tuneful clarity of Jimmy’s advice, Chad somehow manages to botch every attempt in ways both awful and hilarious. As Jimmy grows tired of the weight that he has to carry in educating and comforting White people, Chad is faced with a question for which he, himself, must figure out the answer: now that he can no longer ignore the racism right in front of him…what is he going to do?
MUSICAL NUMBERS
"What Are You Going To Do" | Monique
"Magic Negro Jingle" | Jimmy
"Listen" | Jimmy
"Use Your Voice" | Jimmy, Ensemble
"The Glory" | 80s Man
"Make A Change" | Jimmy, Ensemble
"What Are You Going To Do (Reprise)" | Monique
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WRITER PHOTOS & BIOS
Jamil is a Native New Yorker that has been writing and producing comedy for over 20 years. As co-founder of the comedy troupe, Etc…, he has performed in NYC as well as in their Off Broadway shows APOCALYPSE! BOOK ONE and THE MAGNIFICENT HOUR (FringeNYC). His one man show MAGICAL NEGRO SPEAKS (FringeNYC) was a winner of FringeNYC 2014 award for Solo Performance. Currently he’s hosting podcasts ELLIS CONVERSATIONS and NOT JUST THE HOOK. @comedyTechie | www.magicalnegrospeaks.com
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Andrew's theatrical and concert orchestrations include STARKID: HOMECOMING (featuring Darren Criss), Matthew Hardy’s VIRTUOSO (premiering in Poznan Fall 2020), Justin Roberts' HANSEL AND GRETEL, Starkid's TWISTED: THE UNTOLD STORY OF A ROYAL VIZIER, and FOREVERMAN (Winner 2012 NYMF Awards for Excellence, Outstanding Orchestration). Andrew has co-produced multiple cast recordings, including TWISTED and HANSEL AND GRETEL. www.AndrewFoxMusic.com
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Darryl’s singing career began in the local churches in Jasper County, South Carolina. Off-Broadway: MAMA I WANT TO SING and BIG MAMA STRINGBEAN: THE LIFE OF ETHEL WATERS (AUDELCO award nomination). Touring: SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ. Regional: AIN’T MISBEHAVIN, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, THE WIZ (40th Anniversary in Central Park). Darryl was co-music arranger and vocal arranger for the much-anticipated hit JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR GOSPEL in which he also portrayed Judas at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
B’way/West End: THE BOOK OF MORMON (Elder Cunningham; also Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, and North American Tour). Theatre: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Nat’l Tour (Dr. Frankenstein), NEXT TO NORMAL (Henry; Arizona Theatre Co & SJ Rep). Film: FLOP STOPPERS, THE WAYWARD GUIDE FOR THE UNTRAINED EYE, DOPPELGÄNGER. TV: FOSSE/VERDON (John Kander). Composer: StarKid Productions (TWISTED, A VERY POTTER MUSICAL). Consultant for Season 21 of SOUTH PARK. Repped by BRS/GAGE. University of Michigan graduate.
Simone received a BA in Dramatic Literature (Princeton) and Ed.M in Arts Education (Harvard). She’s a teaching artist and adjunct professor through Actors’ Equity Association, as well as Director of Education for Prospect Theater Company. Tours: TOMMY (Acid Queen; Jeffrey Finn Productions), SOPHISTICATED LADIES (Principal; Inside Broadway). Regional: THE FLOOD (River, Prospect), THE ROCKAE (Lydia, Prospect), PRESIDENT HARDING IS A ROCK STAR (Florence Harding; Les Freres Corbusier).
Broadway: HADESTOWN (Orpheus/Hermès us), BE MORE CHILL (Michael/Rich/Jake us) National Tours: Fiasco’s INTO THE WOODS (Cinderella’s Prince), THE BOOK OF MORMON (Doctor). Regional: WEST SIDE STORY (Hollywood Bowl), Bernstein’s MASS (Disney Concert Hall), FREEDOM RIDERS (NYMF), HAIRSPRAY (Dallas Theater Center), LEMPICKA (NYC Lab) TV: LAW & ORDER SVU (NBC), BLUE BLOODS (CBS), THE OTHER TWO (Comedy Central) and BULL (CBS).
The accomplished actor, producer, singer and songwriter graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and is best known for his Tony-nominated performance in ROCK OF AGES and as a finalist AMERICAN IDOL Season 4. His new original album, Until I’m Wanted, was released in July of 2020. Recent credits: Amazon’s Golden Globe winner, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, MADAME SECRETARY, LAW & ORDER SVU, THE TONIGHT SHOW, DANCING WITH THE STARS, and AMERICA’S GOT TALENT. ConstantineMaroulis.com
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Onyie is a multi-hyphenate artist working in NYC. Previous work includes the CIRQUE DREAM and RENT national tours, the Off-Broadway World premiere of DADDY at the Signature Theatre and SISTAS OFF BWAY. Most recently she opened the world premiere of Heather Christian’s ORATORIO FOR LIVING THINGS at Ars Nova before unfortunately having to close with all of Broadway. Socials include: IG (@theoneandonyie) YT (Onyie Sings)
PRODUCTION TEAM PHOTOS & BIOS
Andrew's theatrical and concert orchestrations include STARKID: HOMECOMING (featuring Darren Criss), Matthew Hardy’s VIRTUOSO (premiering in Poznan Fall 2020), Justin Roberts' HANSEL AND GRETEL, Starkid's TWISTED: THE UNTOLD STORY OF A ROYAL VIZIER, and FOREVERMAN (Winner 2012 NYMF Awards for Excellence, Outstanding Orchestration). Andrew has co-produced multiple cast recordings, including TWISTED and HANSEL AND GRETEL. www.AndrewFoxMusic.com
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Founder/Artistic Director of IndieWorks Theatre Co. Select directing credits: CASPER, THE NOT-SO-FRIENDLY GHOST, SONGS FROM A HAT, EMPTY FRAMES, THE GIANT HOAX, THE COMMUTERS... (nom: Best Musical; Winner: Best Director, Strawberry Theatre Fest), CLOSER THAN EVER, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, VANITIES, OKLAHOMA!, INTO THE WOODS, TWO BOYS IN A BED ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT, SAXE AND THE CITY. Film: VALLEY HIGH (based on the song by Drew Gasparini).
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Credits include music director and dance arranger for The City Club (Minetta Lane), assistant music director and copyist for FINDING NEVERLAND (NYC workshop), faculty music director at AMDA, and music director for several Chicago venues. He wrote words and music for THE BAROQUE CYCLE (Bruno Walter Auditorium) and THE TURING TEST (Gallery Players), and music for NEWB (webseries score), and ¡CANTA! (album). Jonathon is a Northwestern University and BMI workshop alum. jonathonlynchmusic.com.
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Audio engineer and music maker who plays piano, guitar, pedal steel guitar, and other instruments. He honed his craft as an engineer at Ithaca College and as a freelance engineer around Philadelphia, then added work as a musician for theater and other media in New York, Philadelphia, and more. He can be heard on IndieWorks' studio recording of VALLEY HIGH, on record with Rachel Andie and the V Element (Tu Me Manques), Emily Drinker (Run the Race EP, more in 2020-21), and more. jrosen476.com
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Evan ran the audio production company Stacks of Wax, spontaneous songwriting & vocal improv courses (Creative Vocal Lab), was Content Director for the world’s first all-vocal TV channel, FloVoice, coached for NBC’s THE VOICE, and scouted for AMERICA’S GOT TALENT. Evan teaches a cappella, runs sound for a cappella groups, and produces content/digital media strategies for bands/ festivals. Awards: “Best Arrangements/Orchestration”, “Best Musical Direction” for A CAPPELLA: THE MUSICAL (NYMF 2015).
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Jeremy serves as the Managing Director for IndieWorks, whose inaugural mainstage production premiered this past year with THE GIANT HOAX (Theatre Row). Jeremy has also served as a Producer and GM for IndieWorks’ Annual Summer Cabaret Series. Additional producing and management work includes THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING at Minnesota Fringe Festival, the D&D inspired improv show THE CAMPAIGN, and the short film VALLEY HIGH, based on the song by Drew Gasparini.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR THIS EPISODE
Isaiah Alexander, Yvette Monique Clark, Emannuel Elpenord, Kenney M. Green,
A.J. Holmes, Michael Perrie Jr., Lance Roberts,
Simone Zamore, Jason Spiewak, Eric Davis,
Nazaria Flores
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