HEAR THE MUSIC
|
WINDY CITY PRODUCTIONS RECEIVES 2 GRANT AWARDS!
We are proud to announce that Windy City Productions® was recently honored with two separate grants to support a premiere production of Susan Rabin’s new work, JIVE the Musical. |
On June 14, 2022, TBA (Theatre Bay Area) awarded the company a CA$H PERFORMS grant.
On June 23, 2022, the California Arts Council awarded the company a CULTURAL PATHWAYS grant.
|
CAST of CHARACTERS for JIVE the Musical
We invite actors and singers of all races and ethnicities for our production
|
Reverend Preston Taylor (M, Black, 50), Radio Station Owner. Preacher. Widower. Dapper dresser.
Darlene Roosevelt (F, Black, 25-35), Radio DJ. Ambitious but will not work at her parents’ hedge fund. Raoul Jackson (M, Black/Puerto-Rican/20s), Studio Engineer. Innocent. Savant in residence. Chet Taylor (M, White, young-ish), ‘Shock-jock.” Needy.Like an untrained puppy. Kaneesha Penniman (F, Black, 40-50s), Church choir member. Has her eye on “the First Lady” prize. |
ENSEMBLE - all races, ethnicities
Officers Murphy and Corolla (M or F, any race), Law enforcement friends of the Reverend’s. John Chang (M, Asian) Mayoral candidate, Businessman, narcissist. Juanita Garcia (F, Latina) Mayoral candidate, Businesswoman, narcissist Ravi Kapoor (M, South Asian) Mayoral candidate, Businessman, narcissist. Dwayne (M, Black) Caller, bodybuilder. Shaquille (M, any race) Caller. Jimmy (M, any race) Caller Melba (F, Black) Caller. Candace (F, any race) Caller |
JIVE THE MUSICAL
|
Pictured to the left is Bay area favorite, bass-baritone James Creer, as Reverend Preston Taylor, owner of the fictional K-JIVE radio station in Jive the Musical. Struggling to stay afloat, the station hires an outrageous white 'shock jock' and all bets are off. Jive the Musical is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic musical comedy that is timely and uplifting.
|
|
JIVE the Musical brings to life a fictional black radio station in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district as it struggles to stay afloat. They hire a white 'shock jock' and everyone's mind explodes. It is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic musical comedy that is timely and uplifting.
INNOVATIVE WORK JIVE the Musical takes risks with subject matter. With humor, it confronts ethnic and racial alliances, the ‘glass ceiling,’ sexism, “fake news,” and dishonesty. Despite the hazards of offending someone’s feelings, JIVE charges ahead with sardonic humor in mocking each character for foolishness and “jive-talk.” The songs’ lyrics aim for the gut and skewer hypocrisy with wit and humor. Audiences will be able to identify with the battle between the disgraced white male talk show host and the young, |
ambitious black female deejay. Each is hopeful as they awkwardly attempt to connect. There will be a comical debate for mayor among a racially mixed array of candidates which will strain boundaries of propriety. Playwright and composer lyricist, Susan Rabin, has set her songs in the style of blues, R&B, and pop. The music is upbeat and fun and reflects the characters represented on stage.
A production of the non-musical version of the comedy Jive ran at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts - Second Stage and as part of Dragon Theatre's Second Stage in 2016. Reviving the role in the musical version of Reverend Preston Taylor, owner of K-JIVE radio station, candidate for mayor of San Francisco, and heart-throb of women in his church choir, is Bay area favorite, bass-baritone James Creer. |
DIRECTOR CLARK NESBITT
We are pleased to announce that respected veteran director Clark Nesbitt of Clark Nesbitt's No Dreams Deferred performing arts in Greenville, SC, will direct "JIVE the Musical" October 10-12, 2025, at the The Abbeville Opera House in Abbeville, SC.
Clark is an upstate native of Greer, SC., and has been acting for 60+ years and directing for more than 50. He received his BA in English from Benedict College, Columbia, SC. "I’ve been charged to create “Clark Nesbitt’s No Dreams Deferred” performing arts community theatre that promotes complete awareness of theater using writings primarily by Black authors. My greatest desire is to tell stories of my people through the performing arts!"
Clark states that our JIVE project is "a funny and fun musical that can generate good conversation about inter-racial relationships and understanding."
We are pleased to announce that respected veteran director Clark Nesbitt of Clark Nesbitt's No Dreams Deferred performing arts in Greenville, SC, will direct "JIVE the Musical" October 10-12, 2025, at the The Abbeville Opera House in Abbeville, SC.
Clark is an upstate native of Greer, SC., and has been acting for 60+ years and directing for more than 50. He received his BA in English from Benedict College, Columbia, SC. "I’ve been charged to create “Clark Nesbitt’s No Dreams Deferred” performing arts community theatre that promotes complete awareness of theater using writings primarily by Black authors. My greatest desire is to tell stories of my people through the performing arts!"
Clark states that our JIVE project is "a funny and fun musical that can generate good conversation about inter-racial relationships and understanding."
|
|
|
