AUDIENCES AND CRITICS ARE SWEPT AWAY BY THE PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT OF ‘AMAZING GRACE’

AUDIENCES AND CRITICS ARE SWEPT AWAY BY THE PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT OF 'AMAZING GRACE' 1  In Chicago is thrilled that the Pre-Broadway World Premiere engagement of AMAZING GRACE, the new musical with music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, directed by Gabriel Barre(Andrew Lippas’ The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies), has captivated audiences and critics alike.  AMAZING GRACE will play Chicago through Sunday, November 2.

chi-amazing-grace-bank-of-america-theatre-phot-005 In Chicago is thrilled that the Pre-Broadway World Premiere engagement of AMAZING GRACE, the new musical with music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, directed by Gabriel Barre(Andrew Lippas’ The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies), has captivated audiences and critics alike.  AMAZING GRACE will play Chicago through Sunday, November 2.

Audiences are swept away and the critics agree:

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

“A stirring musical. An epic romance. Artfully produced on the lavish scale of Les Mis.”

  • “A soaring piece of work full of well-crafted lyrics and character-driven melodies”
  • “Silver-voiced Erin Mackey, in a poised, expertly modulated performance”
  • “The set design, by the masterful Eugene Lee and Edward Pierce, is shipboard grand”
  • “Toni-Leslie James’ costumes [are] a display of museum-quality splendor”

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

“Hearing ‘Amazing Grace’ sung by this cast makes for an undeniably stirring theatrical moment ; it brought tears to my eyes.”

  • “Stirring, romantic music and lyrics by Smith”
  • “Vividly staged by director Gabriel Barre sending characters up and down masts, and the handsome Young offering full-throated renditions of Smith’s catchy, accessible melodies”

Barbara Vitello, Daily Herald

“The ensemble sings beautifully, especially leads Josh Young and Erin Mackey”

  • “Toni-Leslie James’ period costumes are stunning”
  • “The haunting ‘Nowhere Left to Run’ [is] exquisitely sung by Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper”
  • “Grippingly staged by director Gabriel Barre”

Hank Mendheim, Windy City LIVE ABC-TV

“From the stellar performances to the flawless costumes, ‘Amazing Grace’ is nothing short of amazing!”

Paul Lisnek, Comcast

“This emotional and gripping story ensures you will never hear the beautiful hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ the same way again.”

Steven Oxman, Variety

“A musical of raw power with superb, intense performances.”

Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago

“Young and Mackey are fiercely charismatic leads with strong chemistry”

AMAZING GRACE stars Tony Award nominee® Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar), Erin Mackey (NY Philharmonic’s concert production of Sweeney Todd, Chaplin), Tony Award nominee® Tom Hewitt (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Show), Tony Award winner® Chuck Cooper (Act One, The Life), Chris Hoch (Matilda, Far From Heaven),Stanley Bahorek (Nerds, Honeymoon in Vegas), Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!), and Laiona Michelle (The Book of Mormon national tour).

The ensemble will also feature Marie Juliette Abney, Erica Aubrey, Leslie Becker, Sara Brophy, Rheaume Crenshaw, Miquel Edson, Mike Evariste, Sean Ewing, Rachael Ferrera, Savannah Frazier, Christopher Gurr, Abdur-Rahim Jackson, Allen Kendall,Elizabeth Ward Land, Michael Dean Morgan, Vince Oddo, Oneika Phillips, Clifton Samuels, Gavriel Savit, Dan Sharkey, Bret Shuford, Evan Alexander Smith, Uyoata Udi,Charles E. Wallace, Toni Elizabeth White and Hollie E. Wright.

Produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and presented by Broadway In Chicago, AMAZING GRACE is a world premiere musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song.  A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change.

 

John Newton (Josh Young), a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide.  Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father – a slave trader – and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart (Erin Mackey).  An unforgettable musical saga, AMAZING GRACE captures the spirit of history’s sweetest and most powerful sound: freedom.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for AMAZING GRACE at the Bank of America Theatre are on sale now. For groups of 10 or more, please call Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.