Here’s the bad news: The Tony Award-winning musical After Midnight will play its final performance June 29th. Here’s the good news: Living legend Patti LaBelle‘s run will continue through June 29th.
Producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis announced June 14 that After Midnight will close after an eight-month run that included 19 preview performances and 272 regular performances. The Broadway musical was conceived by Jack Viertel and was directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, who won the Tony Award for Best Choreography. Although After Midnight stars Dulé Hill, another draw for audiences was the “Special Guest Star” vocalists, which included Fantasia, Vanessa Williams, k.d. lang, LaBelle, and Toni Braxton and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, who took on Hill’s role as The Host from March 17 to 30.
As you would guess, LaBelle brings her powerful vocals, from her clear whisper voice to her amazing high notes, to After Midnight. And of course there’s a little shoulder action too, as no Patti LaBelle performance would be complete without LaBelle trying to “take flight.”
Hill also gives an amazing performance that is only slightly outshone by the tapping, acrobatic, rhythmic, popping and locking dancers. There’s a reason After Midnight won that Tony, after all. And the singers are also on par with LaBelle when it comes to capturing attention. Adriane Lenox’s rendition of “Don’t Advertise Your Man” will have you rolling in stitches. I’d be remiss if I also don’t mention that the costumes by legendary design duo Isabel and Ruben Toledo will be the best “fashion show” you’ve ever seen.
After Midnight is also the winner of two 2014 Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Revue), four 2014 Astaire Awards, and the 2014 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography.
Purchase tickets for After Midnight here before it closes on June 29th. See it at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in New York.