Cast announced for UK concert premiere of new musical I DREAM at The Other Palace
Casting has been announced for the UK concert premiere of new musical I Dream, which will be staged at The Other Palace on 27 April.
I Dream follows civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy at the end of his life, as he reflects on his lifelong friendship with Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the myriad experiences they shared, set against a contemporary score infused with the spirit of gospel, jazz, blues, and soul.
The cast includes: Chrissie Bhima (I’m Every Woman the Musical, UK tour) as Bria, Wendy Mae Brown (Waitress, UK tour) as Mother/Grandma, Rhiane Drummond (The Lion King, West End) as Ensemble, Michael Duke (Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, West End) as Martin, Carl Ellis (Starlight Express, Bochum Germany) as Ensemble, Emilie Louise Israel (Hamilton, West End) as Ensemble, Cal-I Jonel (The Book of Mormon, West End) as Ensemble, Alexia Khadime (Wicked, West End) as Coretta, Jenay Naima (MJ The Musical, West End) as Ensemble, Wayne Robinson (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Mercury Theatre/Southwark Playhouse) as Hosea/Ensemble, Obioma Ugoala (Hamilton, West End) as Ralph, and Rodney Vubya (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, West End) as Ensemble.
I Dream has music and lyrics by Douglas Tappin, with a book by Douglas Tappin and Jonathan Payne, and orchestrations by Carl Marsh and Keith Williams. The concert will be directed by Annabel Mutale Reed, with music direction by Keith Williams, casting by Heather Basten CDG CSA, lighting by Holly Ellis, and sound by Daniel Hunt.
As civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy slips away from this world, his lifelong friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. looms into stark and haunting focus. Memories collide as Ralph is pulled back into the rallies, jails, and private moments where deep bond was forged and tested. A sharp young voice of conscience from within challenges him to face the rivalries and regrets he has long tried to bury.
I Dream brings the civil rights movement’s inner circle to the stage and reveals the personal stakes behind the public history. The musical offers an intimate look at the key relationship at the heart of the movement, and what it truly cost to dream of a better world.
