Tue 4/2 @ 7:30PM
Fela Kuti, credited with shaping Afropop into a recognizable genre, is one of those musicians whose legend and influence are larger than life.
The genre he more and less created is a heady brew of his Nigerian roots, his London classical training, and his passion for jazz, with horns and tribal rhythms driving female call-and-response vocals and choreography. Fela was also known for his radical politics, which attracted a passionate following and powerful resistance from authorities, and for his extravagant womanizing.
That’s clearly fertile material for a musical, and the creators of Fela!, which debuted on Broadway in 2009, jumped right in. One of those creators was the noted choreographer Bill T. Jones. He co-wrote, choreographed, and directed the colorful music- and dance-crammed production, which focuses on a short period in the ’70s when the Nigerian military government tried to destroy Fela.
Fela! storms into PlayhouseSquare’s Palace Theatre for three performances this week, 4/2 through 4/4. Tickets are $10 to $70. But through March 28, PlayhouseSquare is offering all seats for $30. Go here to order.
http://www.playhousesquare.org/
Cleveland, OH 44115