Jahi Kearse, from MetroStage to Broadway debut in Baby It’s You!

Jahi Kearse is a hoofer, a singer, a musician, a powerful actor, and a songwriter who critics and DC area theatregoers have enthusiastically embraced his performances in MetroStage’s Cool Papa’s Party, Round House Theatre’s Pippin, and The Studio Theatre’s Slam!, Top Dog/Underdog, and Passing Strange.

On April 27th, Jahi will be making his Broadway debut in the new musical Baby It’s You! In Joel Markowitz's interview at DCTheatreScene.com, he tells us how Cool Papa’s Party helped to land him on Broadway.

CLICK HERE to read the full interview >

A Note From The Artistic Director

MetroStage is proud to announce that Cool Papa's Party, which premiered at MetroStage January 2009, has received six Helen Hayes Awards nominations: Outstanding Director Thomas W. Jones II, Outstanding Music Director William Knowles, Outstanding Choreographer Maurice Hines, Outstanding Lead Actor Jahi Kearse, Outstanding Supporting Actor Anthony Manough and Outstanding Ensemble in a Resident Musical. Congratulations to Tom, William and Maurice and to this remarkable ensemble of Jahi, Roz, William, Anthony, Gary, Lori, Gia, and Ben who tapped, sang and acted as they told the story of the "world's greatest entertainer." Since its premiere, Cool Papa's Party has continued to be workshopped in Atlanta, here at MetroStage and later this spring in New York in anticipation of future productions prior to a New York run.

Heroes, translated by Tom Stoppard and starring Ralph Cosham, Michael Tolaydo, and John Dow who so exquisitely portrayed three old soldiers passing their time on a park bench and displaying their camaraderie with wit and poignance, was recognized by the Helen Hayes judges with a nomination as Outstanding Ensemble in a Resident Play. Congratulations to Ralph, Michael, John, and to director John Vreeke who was so instrumental in creating this amazing ensemble. Heroes received four Moliere nominations in Paris and won an Olivier in London. This Helen Hayes Awards nomination is another honor for this lovely "little gem" and its wonderful cast.

Carolyn Griffin

2010 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations Announced

We are pleased to announce that two MetroStage productions have received recognition from the Helen Hayes Awards. The 2010 nominations were announced this week and Cool Papa's Party and Heroes both received nominations. Congratulations and thanks to the casts, the creative teams and the crews that made these productions possible!

Outstanding Choreography, Resident Production
♦ Maurice Hines, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Director, Resident Musical
♦ Thomas W. Jones II, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical
♦ Jahi Kearse, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Music Direction, Resident Production
♦ William Knowles, Cool Papa's Party

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical
♦ Anthony Manough, Cool Papa's Party

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical
♦ Cool Papa's Party

The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play
♦ Heroes






The 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards will be presented on Monday, April 5, 2010 at 8:00pm, a gala celebration bringing together 2,000 theatre makers and theatre lovers to The Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees >

Click here to read Tim Treanor's article "Small is big..." from DC Theatre Scene >

DC Theatre Scene's Winter Musical Scene Stealing Moments

Roz White singing “Ain’t No Life” in Cool Papa’s Party at MetroStage.

Joel Markowitz writes, "What can I say about Roz White in Cool Papa’s Party? When she belted “Aint’ No Life”, I had to hold on to my seat - the house was shaking while Ms. Roz was rocking!

I’ve seen Roz scene-steal in other productions at MetroStage, Two Queens One Castle, Bricktop and Three Sistahs, and her one woman Pearl Bailey show this year held an encyclopedia of scene stealers. So, add one more to the list, because her fiery rendition of “Ain’t No Life” set the tone for the toe tappin’, smooth dancin’ Cool Papa’s Party, and got the audience all fired up. Roz is like adrenalin. You inject her into a show, and she gets you going!..."

CLICK HERE TO READ COMPLETE DCTHEATRESCENE.COM ARTICLE >

Promo for Cool Papa's Party

What the Critics are Saying about Cool Papa's Party

"Cool Papa's Party is a frantic smattering of music, dance, with bits of dramatic elements tossed on an overlay of historical chronology... He was a force of nature - complex, conflicted, controversial, self-destructive, who barreled through his life story as the ultimate song and dance man, from cradle to grave. Ambitious to a fault, this rendition... is also complex, conflicted, reaches beyond the traditional boundaries, calls its own shots, and barrels through on the sheer life force of its own force of nature, by the name of Jahi Kearse who portrays the title character, Cool Papa Rose. Composer and music director William Knowles with a fab five jazzy combo keeps a steady hand on the undulating rhythm and syncopated beats. His soaring melodies and sweet tight harmonies flow seamlessly..." Debbie Minter Jackson, dctheatrescene.com

"...a tasty "fantabulous" evening of exuberant tap dancing, high-spirited hep steps, smooth slides, cheerful 60's swim moves and the silky movement of upper body and arms that an adult crane might mate to as the audience is taken through the trials of being a black entertainer in the 20th Century. This is a dancer's show, with the choreography of Maurice Hines front and center through-out. The cast brims with kinetic energy... The hoofing...is a high point of the production." David Seigel, PotomacStages.com

"a lynxlike hoofer....Kearse delivers a crystallized and charismatic [performance]." Celia Wren, Washington Post

"Two notable talents, author-director Thomas W. Jones II and choreographer Maurice Hines, have created a loving tribute to the entertainment styles of the 20th century through the figure of "the last American hipster," an African-American performer..." Susan Berlin, TalkinBroadway.com

"Cool Papa's Party tells the compelling story of a legend, and with a legendary cast and crew, this musical delights the senses." Donna Ledbetter, BellaOnline

"...so much talent over there in Alexandria at MetroStage." Rich Massabny, Arlington Ch.69

"...another wonderful biomusical...There was more electricity expended on this cabaret stage by the seven singer/dancers that could light up the city of Alexandria for a month. Jahi Kearse...was absolutely stunning in his acting, singing and dancing. He ruled the stage throughout and rightly so. His bandy legged dancing and undulating body musculature seemed to defy nature. The quintet [are] an exceptional variation jazz group. And noted dancer, Maurice Hines, gets kudos for his top rated choreography." Bob Anthony, AllArtsReview4U

Talk-Back held after February 6th performance

Director/ author Thomas W. Jones II and choreographer Maurice Hines talk about how Cool Papa's Party got started and how the two of them got together on this project; plus, a look at past celebrity encounters.

Choreographer Maurice Hines talks about respect, recalls having worked with the best entertainers (which are unlike the "stars" of today) and working with the director Tom Jones and the cast of Cool Papa's Party.

Major Announcement - Change of Schedule

The production of Cool Papa's Party has been pushed forward one week...

Pay-What-You-Can First Preview
is NOW on
Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 8:00pm

Opening/ Press Night
is NOW on
Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 8:00pm

Closing Night
is NOW on
Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 7:00pm

Preliminary set plans for Cool Papa's Party

Set Designer Carl Gudenius devised a simple concept to take the audience from several backstage moments to viewing a show onstage at a Las Vegas nightclub in the 1990's...

Announcing the cast of Cool Papa's Party

Ben Horen

METROSTAGE: The Stephen Schwartz Project; STUDIO THEATRE: Jerry Springer

William Hubbard

METROSTAGE: Mahalia, All Night Strut, Bricktop, Pearl Bailey...By Request; MUSIC DIRECTION - ATLAS THEATRE: Spunk; METROSTAGE: Three Sistahs; ARENA STAGE: Crowns

Jahi Kearse

STUDIO THEATRE: Topdog/ Underdog

Anthony Manough

METROSTAGE: Bricktop; BROADWAY: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King; FILM: Naked Boys Singing

Gia Mora

ARENA STAGE: Christmas Carol 1941; WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE: She Stoops to Comedy; ROUND HOUSE THEATRE: A Prayer for Owen Meany

Roz White

METROSTAGE: Three Sistahs, Two Queens One Castle, Bricktop, Pearl Bailey...By Design

Lori Williams

METROSTAGE: All Night Strut, Isn't It Romantic?

Also joining the creative staff of Thomas W. Jones, II, Writer & Director, and William Knowles, Music Director/ Composer, is Maurice Hines, who will be choreographing

this new musical production.

As Performer - BROADWAY: Uptown… its Hot (Tony Nomination,) NATIONAL TOUR: Jelly Roll Morton in Jelly's Last Jam, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Eubie!, Bring Back Birdie with Chita Rivera and Donald O'Connor, Sophisticated Ladies, Harlem Suite. FILM: Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton CLub. As Director/ Choreographer - BROADWAY: Uptown… its Hot, Hot Feet! NATIONAL TOUR: Satchmo, Harlem Suite, INTERNATIONAL: Havana Night (Cuba), The Red Shoes (Dominican Republic.) NY: The Radio City Spectacular.

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