By Andrew Poretz (Photos: Melissa Griegel Photography)
Theater Pizzazz was on hand for this week’s press event at the historic Players Club for That’s Love!, the Dorothy Dandridge musical that opens next month at the Axlelrod Performing Arts Center in New Jersey, though expected to be “coming to Broadway.”
Singer and actress Dorothy Dandridge was a movie star largely unknown today, but she was, as much as her co-star Harry Belafonte, the Black entertainer who paved the way for stars like Halle Berry, and as important to Black film history as Jackie Robinson was to baseball.
Press were treated to an intimate performance by its creator and star, N’Kenge, at five-octave powerhouse of a singer. With the accompaniment of Shelton Becton, who composed the songs for That’s Love!, of an aria from Carmen and a song written for the musical.
All of the cast and creative team were on hand and introduced on a red carpet, including N’Kenge as Dorothy Dandridge, Grace Field as Dandridge’s best friend, Marilyn Monroe; Dawn Derow as Hedda Hopper, Joey Stone and Dion Simmons Grier as Harold and Fayard Nicholas, and Jeremy Webb as Otto Preminger.
This writer stayed behind for much of the table read. As a fly on the wall, it was fun to hear some delicious Hollywood name dropping and drama. (Based on what I witnessed, I acepted an invitation to review the show for Theater Pizzazz next month.)
That’s Love! will start previews at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center on February 19, with an opening on February 21. For tickets, visit https://www.axelrodartscenter.com/thats-love-dorothy-dandridge.
Photos: Melissa Griegel Photography
