I am not sure what to make of this. Bill T Jones (creator of the musical “Fela!,” currently playing on Broadway) recently choreographed “Zombie” (a song about military repression) for Canada’s version of “So You Think You Can Dance.” About these ads
Abraham Lincoln and Fela Kuti
February 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Some critics went after Bill T Jones for his musical portrayal of the king of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, on Broadway. Here, in the video above, Mr Jones responds–indirectly–to criticisms of “Fela!,” during a discussion with Bill Moyers about the life of the American President, Abraham Lincoln. Jones created a dance-theater work celebrating the bicentennial of […]
Representing Fela
February 6, 2010 By 1 Comment
Last week The New York Times published an odd piece of writing by one its theater “critics”, Charles Isherwood about the Broadway show “Fela!” about the life of the Afrobeat king. Isherwood, in a piece that was begging for reaction, accused the show of “tilting” towards minstrelsy (basically Bill T Jones promotes blackface) aimed at […]
Fela Inspiration
January 20, 2010 By 1 Comment
EVERYBODY WANTS FELA TO SUCCEED (ON BROADWAY)
December 8, 2009 By 1 Comment
The New York mainstream press is all over Bill T Jones’ musical “Fela!,” which recently opened in the city. Everybidy wants the show to succeed in a downmarket. “The New York Times” has done a few pieces– a preview and a review, while “The Village Voice” published a long piece by one of its music […]
FELA KUTI IS COMING TO BROADWAY
August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
“Fela!,” the Bill T. Jones musical about the life of the Nigerian Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is opening on Broadway on October 19. I had tickets during the show’s short Off-Broadway run last year, but on a night when the show was canceled. This time I won’t miss it.
