(RAHWAY, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) will present a Talkback session entitled "The Origins of Purlie" following the Fri. March 7, 2025 at 7:00pm performance of Purlie at Hamilton Stage in Rahway. Purlie is the musical version of the play Purlie Victorious and was written by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose and Peter Udell with music by Gary Geld. Hasna Muhammad, daughter of Ossie Davis, is expected to participate in the Talkback, along with members of the cast and creative team. All are welcome to attend.
Featuring an unforgettable score, Purlie tells the story of a traveling preacher who returns to his hometown in Georgia and concocts a scheme to reclaim his church while ringing the bell of freedom for plantation workers. Nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction and Best Choreography, the original Broadway production launched the careers of Melba Moore, Cleavon Little and Sherman Hemsley.
“We have been very fortunate to have been working closely with the Davis family on bringing this landmark musical back to the NYC area for the first time in 20 years,” noted ATG Producing Artistic Director Jim Vagias, “and we are thrilled to be joined by Hasna to provide an insider’s look at its development.”
ATG’s production is directed by Kenny Ingram, who was nominated for a 2023 Audelco Award for his direction of James T. Lane’s Triple Threat Off Broadway at Theatre Row and choreographed the NY Times’ Critic Choice’s Emojiland at the Duke on 42nd St. Ingram’s Broadway debut was in The Lion King, where he performed for a decade. Starring in the production are Timothy Ware-Hill (B’way: Kinky Boots) as Purlie and newcomer Aeja Barrows as Lutiebelle.
The production runs March 6-23rd at Hamilton Stage in Rahway; performances are at 7:00pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and 2pm on Sundays. There is an additional 2:00pm matinee on Saturday, March 22. Tickets are available through the box office by calling 732-499-8226 or available for purchase online. Hamilton Stage is located at 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway and is independently operated under the governance of Union County Performing Arts Center. The 199-seat theater was recently re-opened following a complete renovation.
Purlie is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
American Theater Group (ATG) produces new and classic works primarily by American playwrights with an emphasis on the development of new works and the reimagining of undeservedly neglected older ones. It also provides quality arts-in-education initiatives, including its annual DramaFest for students and its PlayLab program for BIPOC and queer playwrights.
