An invitation-only industry presentation, co-directed by Stephen Lloyd Helper and Arminda Thomas, will take place in New York City on Tuesday, March 7th and Wednesday, March 8th. Special show finale appearance by Bobby Rush!
Bluesman Bobby Rush’s stories extend farther than cotton fields to Chitlin’ Circuit, a book to Grammy wins, an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities to Bobby Rush Boulevard. Indeed, he’s more than his two Grammy wins, 14 Blues Music Awards, 400 plus recordings, and 27 studio albums. He’s survived both the Jim Crow era and a serious bus crash that took a bandmate’s life. He’s been wrongfully arrested and left for dead by police. He’s lost three children. He’s been ripped off for millions. He’s not just a survivor; he’s a fighter.
Slippin’ Through the Cracks, a new musical about the legendary bluesman, is currently in development. Rush wrote the music and lyrics, as well as the book with Stephen Lloyd Helper, who conceived the Broadway hit Smokey Joe’s Café. Helper serves as co-director of the production, and the musical is co-directed by Arminda Thomas, with musical direction by Felton Offard.