London:
The Gospel According To Broadway

Tuesday 16th October 2007 – Gala Performance with the BBC Concert Orchestra

London Community Gospel Choir, Michael Terry Singers, Harlem Gospel Ensemble and Hackney Empire Gospel Ensemble

The world premier of this exciting new anthology of the Greatest Hits of African American Sacred Music as conceived and directed by Broadway Choral director / arranger Chapman Roberts with tributes to Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson, Mahalia Jackson and other world acclaimed gospel / spiritual composers, and arrangers.

“I have attempted to condense this huge Musical Legacy into what we expect to be a 90 minute celebration of 300 years of African American Sacred Music, and its composers and singers, known and unknown.  In juxtaposition to some of the finest examples of Italian religious art as a scenic background, the piece deliberately illuminates the spiritual power, religious influence, and social relevance of both art forms and the artists who employed their God Given Gifts in immortalising the events of the Passion, thereby transmuting immeasurable pain and suffering into an elusively tangible beauty “ says Chapman Roberts

In a multi faceted 40 year career, Roberts’ formidable credits include his Broadway debut in 1968 as a member of the original cast of the first rock musical hit Hair (with Diane Keaton), and Broadways longest running musical revue Smokey Joe’s cafe (which starred R&B greats Gladys Knight and Lou Rawls and won the 2000 Grammy’s for Best Broadway Cast Album), and Broadway’s most successful Gospel Musical, Your Arms Too Short to Box with God which premiered at the Spoleto Festival in 1975, was revived on Broadway 4 times and stared Patti Labelle, Al Green, Be Be Winans, Teddy Prendergast, Stephanie Mills and introduced Jennifer Holiday.

For full details see listings and also contact  Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, London, E8 1EJ. Box Office – 020 8985 2424 www.hackneyempire.co.uk

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