Written and Directed by Nate Jacobs
WORLD PREMIERE

March 2- April 9, 2016

Sam Cooke was born to sing. His distinctive voice and movie-star looks propelled him to superstardom across audiences. First a gospel singer, he then blended spirituality and sensuality, sophistication and soul to create such hits as You Send Me, Saturday Night, A Change is Gonna Come and Twistin’ the Night Away.  His tragic death at age 33 cut short his career, but his influence in the music world lives on today. This original musical tells the fascinating story of one of the most popular black singers/songwriters of all time.

Nate JacobsNate's Notes

"Each season, WBTT performs at least one show that I conceive and direct. This year I chose to feature a musical icon who became the first African-American singer to control the rights to his own music. His background is interesting because most people recognize his songs, but few know his personal story." -Nate Jacobs

 

CAST AND CREATIVE

Ariel Blue (Mrs. Holloway, Mrs. Cook)

Ashley D. Brooks (Agnes Cook, Barbara Cooke),

Jeffery Cason, Jr. (Lee Richardson, Highway QCs, Soul Stirrers #1 & #2, Church Deacon, L.C. Cook, Bobby Womack)

Carmilla Harris (Dot Holloway, Dolores Mohawk)

Joel Patrick King* (Charles Cook, Highway QCs, Soul Stirrers #2)

Michael Mendez* (Highway QCs, Soul Stirrers #1, R.H. Harris, Radio DJ, S.R. Crain, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Adler)

Rafael Petlock (Bob Keane, Ed Sullivan, Sol Julian, Jess Rand, Stagehand, Bartender)

Leon S. Pitts II (Highway QCs, Soul Stirrers #1 & #2, Rev. Cook, Bumps Blackwell, Al)

Walter Price (Producer, Announcer, Rene Hall, Stan Ross)

Cecil E. Washington, Jr. * (Sam Cooke, Highway QCs, Soul Stirrers #2)

 

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States