The Champion
a World Premiere by Amy Evans
featuring Joy Jones as Nina Simone
Inspired by untold, true events in the life of music legend Nina Simone. It’s 1962 and Nina and her band are holed up from a snowstorm in a greasy spoon somewhere in North Carolina. As tempers flare and secrets surface, it seems the waitress at this small-town diner may soon be the only witness of a historic meltdown. Suddenly, the door swings open, and the famous outsiders discover they’re truly in unfriendly territory. A sharply drawn, exciting new play that intimately portrays a cultural icon and the turbulent era during which she rose to fame. Directed by Reginald Douglas.
“I’ll tell you what freedom is to me. No fear.”
CAST AND TEAMS
CAST
JOY JONES* Nina Simone
CURTIS LONGFELLOW* Al Schackman
BRITNEY WALKER-MERRITTE Theresa
AUSTIN ASHFORD Bobby Hamilton
BRYCE KEMPH McNeil
GRANT HOCKENBROUGH Frasier
CREATIVE
MICHAEL RIHA† Scenic Designer
RUBY KEMPH Costume Designer
JORGE ARROYO† Lighting Designer
SINAN REFIK ZAFAR Sound Designer
JOHN WALCH Dramaturg
SHANNON A. JONES* Production Stage Manager
BRODIE JASCH Properties Master
Photo Gallery
Curtis Longfellow, Cary Hite, and Austin Ashford play the 1962 members of Nina Simone's band.
THE ARTISTS
Watch & listen
PRESS
Nina Simone To Be Inducted In Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018 Class - Rolling Stone
Nina Simone's Time is Now, Again - The New York Times
SHOW SPONSORS
MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY
Show sponsors Sandy Edwards, Peter & Anne Leer, Steve & Linda Nelson, and Amp Sign & Banner.