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A diverse new play takes Broadway by storm
By Brook Stephenson
Passing Strange, an autobiographical rock and roll musical written and starring Stew (seated, above) will take you through a myriad of emotions: love, lust, wonder, and loss. The story is one of self-definition, specifically for the African-American male main character as he “passes” through the cultures of Los Angeles, California; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Berlin, Germany, reinventing himself in his own version of the African-American experience. Each place finds him a different person leaving than he was when he was arriving. If you’ve ever wondered, “who am I?” coupled with “who are they?” or even “who are we?” in terms of society, then this play will remind you of that. Passing Strange feels like life, or at least the pursuit of happiness when you’re not sure who you are but can make things fit enough to fool yourself into becoming someone you are not. The show’s music (by Stew and Heidi Rodewald) is what really sets it off. Each song fits perfectly with the situation and character or ensemble singing it in a Spike Lee, School Daze sort of way. As this dynamic young cast of African-Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians bring their characters to life, you end up swept away in the lives they live. No one is immune to innocence or guilt. No one is perfect. And everyone is striving to be the best person they can be. I loved it in an am-I-really-supposed-to-enjoy-theater-this-much? sort of way. America is strange enough but the show implies that growing up African-American in America is even stranger. As each cast member embodies a different character, the humor, humaneness, and revelations will resonate as you identify with their journey, the music, and the feel of Passing Strange. Passing Strange, which just won a Tony award, is playing off Broadway at the Belasco Theatre. For more information go to: passingstrangeonbroadyway.com.
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