Tamika Lawrence worth the price of admission to the new musical BLACK NO MORE

 

BLACK NO MORE - LISTENING TO TAMIKA LAWRENCE IS WORTH THE PRICE OF THE TICKET!

The new musical BLACK NO MORE is based on the 1931 Afrofuturist novel by the same name written by George S. Schuyler.  In this world, by using science a machine is created to decolorize African-American people and solve the black vs white race problem that nags at America like fast-moving cancer. It’s so successful in making the world mostly white, in color, that there’s no one really left for haters to hate. And you know how “haters” love to hate. 

Currently playing at Pershing Square Signature Center, the New Group’s musical version directed by Scott Elliott is a beautiful mess. The book is written by John Ridley, who won an Oscar for best-adapted screenplay for the film “12 Years a Slave.”

As a musical the score has lyrics by Tariq Trotter of the Roots; music by Trotter, Anthony Tidd, James Poyser, and Daryl Waters which serves in establishing the personalities and zeitgeist. You can’t get away from this musical without thinking about “Hamilton” which, like this, is a mix of spoken word and hip-hop. But these gifted musicians added the feel of jazz and gospel that made it uniquely its own sound. They cleverly infused the deeper longing and diverse inspirations coupling them with traditions and songs that absolutely reveal the characters’ hearts and minds.  

And let’s give a nod of deep appreciation for Waters’s musical supervision because they provided an opportunity to showcase PHENOMENAL singing from the cast of 26 but the stand-out is actress Tamika Lawrence. Mark this name well, fam[ily] she’s a diamond among diamonds. 

To listen to Tamika Lawrence sing is worth the price of admission to the new musical BLACK NO MORE. 

BLACK NO MORE now playing at Pershing Square Signature Center, Pershing Square Signature Center - 480 W 42nd St. between 9th and 10th)in Manhattan; thenewgroup.org. Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes.

Credits: Book by John Ridley; directed by Scott Elliott; lyrics and music by Tariq Trotter; music by Anthony Tidd, James Poyser, and Daryl Waters; choreographed by Bill T. JonesCastJennifer Damiano, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tamika Lawrence, Howard McGillin, Tracy Shayne, Theo Stockman, Ephraim Sykes, Tariq Trotter, Edward Watts, Lillias White, Leanne Antonio, Elijah A. Carter, Gaelen Gilliland, Polanco Jones Jr., Zachary Daniel Jones, Sarah Meahl, Mary Page Nance, Oneika Phillips, Nicholas Ranauro, Mars Rucker, Akron Watson, Nyla Watson, Rhaamell Burke-Missouri, Ryan Fitzgerald, Malaiyka Reid, and Angela M. Sauers .