“…definitely a show that you’re not going to want to miss…rowdy, raucous, sultry, and exciting…a wild and exciting ride through the golden age of jazz and the music of a celebrated American musical icon.”
– Broadway World

Director Jeffrey L. Page (Broadway director and choreographer for Beyoncé) reimagines this vibrant celebration of jazz pioneer Fats Waller’s extraordinary career, while exploring the metaphorical masks Waller and his musicians assumed while performing for white audiences.

Featuring classics from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s-40s such as “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Your Feet’s Too Big” and “T’Aint Nobody’s Business if I Do,” and performed by a cast of five with a live onstage band, this Tony Award-winning musical revue will energize, enlighten and entertain audiences.

For ages 12 and up.

Thoughts From The Director

In this revival of Ain’t Misbehavin’, director Jeffery L. Page states that he is “interested in the celebration of Blackness as well as examining the hard truth: the fetishization of Blackness.” He is also “interested in looking at this collection of Waller’s works as one would a finely curated art exhibit – the curated musical pieces artfully tell a story of Waller’s protest through his mask of humor.”

View our digital program

WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER

MEET THE CAST

Miya Bass

Paris Bennett*

Jay Copeland

Judith Franklin*

Will Stone*

MEET THE MUSICIANS

Donavan Austin

Trombone

Terry Bogart

Piano/Music Director

Jason Clotter

Bass

Bernell Jones II

Reed 2 Clarinet/Tenor Saxophone

Kevin Oliver

Reed 1 Clarinet/Alto Saxophone

Ryan Sands

Percussion

John Williams II

Trumpet

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

Director

Scenic Design

Lighting Design

Costume Design

Sound Designer

Music Director

Associate Director/Choreographer

Sean Sanford

Props Supervisor

Alexis Nalbandian*

Production Stage Manager

Tré Wheeler*

Assistant Stage Manager

Production Assistant

Vocal Arranger

Music Contractor

Assistant Lighting Designer

Paul Vaillancourt

Lighting Programmer

CASTING BY:
Pat McCorkle, CSA, and Rebecca Weiss

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

GALLERY

Miya Bass, Judith Franklin, Will Stone, Jay Copeland, Paris Bennett. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Will Stone, Judith Franklin, Miya Bass, Paris Bennett, Jay Copeland. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Jay Copeland, Will Stone. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Judith Franklin, Paris Bennett, Miya Bass. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Judith Franklin, Jay Copeland, Paris Bennett, Will Stone, Miya Bass. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Jay Copeland, Paris Bennett. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Jay Copeland, Miya Bass, Judith Franklin, Paris Bennett, Will Stone. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

Jay Copeland, Judith Franklin. Photo by Ron Heerkens Jr

MORE INSIGHTS. MORE FUN.

Get more from your experience at the Playhouse by joining us for one of our pre- or post-show events!

Taste & Chat

Tue, April 11 at 6PM

Before the show, enjoy free wine and food tastings from one of our local restaurants and talk with Marcella Monk Flake - with show ticket purchase!
LEARN MORE

Pride Night

Thu, April 13 at 6PM

A pre-show cocktail party for the LGBTQ+ community and friends with show ticket purchase!
LEARN MORE

Black Excellence Night

Fri, April 14 at 6:30PM

A FREE pre-show communal celebration for the Black and Brown community to celebrate Black people, history, and excellence!

OPENING NIGHT

Sat, April 15, post-show

Celebrate the opening of the production along with the cast, crew, and creative team - free with show ticket purchase!

SUNDAY SYMPOSIUM

Sun, April 16, post-show

After the show, André De Shields (member of the original Broadway cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’) with join current director and choreographer Jeffrey L. Page to discuss the significance and history of Ain’t Misbehavin’.

OPEN CAPTIONS

Sun, April 23 matinee

Deaf and hard of hearing audiences can enjoy the performance while watching an easy-to-read digital screen with the actors’ dialogue.

POST-PLAY DIALOGUE

Tues, April 25, post-show

BACKSTAGE PASS

Wed, April 26 mat, post-show

After the show, learn how the Playhouse technical staff brought it to life!

Making theater open to all.

The Playhouse offers a variety of accessible ticket pricing options, including pay-what-you-will performances, first responder discounts, free tickets for Indigenous peoples, and more.

See ticketing discounts

Production Partners: Athena & Daniel Adamson

This production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ is sponsored by Bank of America

Media Sponsorship for the 2023 season is generously provided by Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio.

Additional Production Credits

Ain’t Misbehavin’ is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Ain’t Misbehavin’
The Fats Waller Musical Show

Created and Originally Directed by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz
Original Choreography and Musical Staging by Arthur Faria
Musical Adaptations, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Luther Henderson
Vocal & Musical Concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon
Musical Arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott

Originally produced by The Manhattan Theatre Club.
Originally produced on Broadway by Emanuel Azenberg, Dasha Epstein, The Shubert Organization, Jane Gaynor & Ron Dante

COVID PROTOCOLS

Masks are strongly encouraged (N95 or KN95 recommended) at the Playhouse. Proof of vaccination is no longer required. Please review our full safety protocols here.

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April 11 – 29, 2023

Ain’t Misbehavin’

A co-production with
Barrington Stage + Geva Theatre Center

conceived by
Richard Maltby, Jr. + Murray Horwitz directed + choreographed by
Jeffrey L. Page

PAST EVENT

STUDY GUIDE

Running Time: ~ 2 hours (including one 15 minute intermission)

“…definitely a show that you’re not going to want to miss…rowdy, raucous, sultry, and exciting…a wild and exciting ride through the golden age of jazz and the music of a celebrated American musical icon.” – Broadway World