The Stage Door Foundation is a not-for-profit organization providing support to artists as they develop theatrical projects, allowing individuals to focus on the creative process. Their mission is to secure and provide support to theatrical artists by providing access to professional mentorship, subsidized investments, and a supportive network infrastructure that can ignite the innovation of art. The vision of The Stage Door Foundation is to shape a world where art can be dreamed, developed, and realized without obstacles, to cultivate a performing arts ecosystem that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and the untold stories waiting to be unveiled. Please note that The Stage Door Foundation's 501(c)3 designation is pending, subject to the IRS' discretion.
Description
ROOTED: A MUSICAL POEM, part of The Broadway Workroom Series
Friday October 17th, 2025
1 PM & 4:30 PM
Running time: 70 minutes
ROOTED: A MUSICAL POEM: book, music and lyrics by Jewelle Blackman (Hadestown)
Mom works away
Girl wishes she’d stay
So off with a tree she’d go and play.
Rooted: A Musical Poem is a contemporary fable for the ages. With R’n’B rhythms and soaring strings this magical tale is brought to life in the heart of Central Park.
Casting for ROOTED includes Khaila Wilcoxon (Redwood), Kay Trinidad (Hadestown) Malcolm Armwood (Hadestown) Trent Saunders (Dead Outlaw), Sojourner Brown (Purpose), Timothy Hughes (The Greatest Showman), Isidora Kecman (Life After), Tara Jackson (Hadestown).
The creative team includes Direction by T. Oliver Reid (Once on This Island), Music Direction by Richard Baskin, Jr. (Soul Patrol) with Musicians Angelique Montes, Steven Jackson, and Fung Chern Wei.
About Jewelle Blackman: Widely known as a musical theatre performer, Jewelle Blackaman was a member of the Original Broadway Cast of the Tony and Grammy winning Best musical HADESTOWN, where she originated the role of “The Contralto Fate” and later took over as “Persephone”. She was most recently seen as “Shenzi” in Disney’s THE LION KING at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Canada. The same show that jump started her career more than 20 years ago. Selected theatre credits include three seasons at the Stratford Festival and the Canadian Premiere Companies of CAROLINE OR CHANGE; DREAMGIRLS, WE WILL ROCK YOU; HADESTOWN and THE LION KING. Also a playwright, her musicals “ROOTED” and “BoyBoy and the Magic Drum” (the latter which she co-wrote with Chantal Forde, and received the Aubrey & Marla Dan Award for New Musicals), both premiered at The Toronto Fringe Festival in 2024 to critical acclaim.
ROOTED: A MUSICAL POEM is presented as the fourth offering of The Stage Door Foundation’s Broadway Workroom Series, a groundbreaking move to champion the arts and empower the development of theatrical artists and new works. This initiative provides creative teams with free studio space and technical support to further the development of their creative projects. At the end of the development week, the public is invited, at no cost, to experience this dynamic new musical in concert at Open Jar Studios.
About The Stage Door Foundation:
The Stage Door Foundation is a not-for-profit organization providing support to artists as they develop theatrical projects, allowing individuals to focus on the creative process. Their mission is to secure and provide support to theatrical artists by providing access to professional mentorship, subsidized investments, and a supportive network infrastructure that can ignite the innovation of art. The vision of The Stage Door Foundation is to shape a world where art can be dreamed, developed, and realized without obstacles, to cultivate a performing arts ecosystem that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and the untold stories waiting to be unveiled.
Date & Time
Oct 17, 2025 1:00 PM-5:45 PM
Venue Details
Open Jar Studios NYC
1601 Broadway, 11th floor (enter on W 48 Street)New York, New York 10019
