The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia has announced that Michael Arden and Tinashe Kajese-Bolden will direct the world premiere of The Preacher's Wife, a new musical penned by Tituss Burgess and Azie Dungey. The news comes as part of a larger reveal of the directors that have signed onto productions for the Alliance Theatre's 2023-24 season.
Based on Robert Nathan's novel The Bishop's Wife and the films The Bishop’s Wife and The Preacher’s Wife, the new musical features a book by stage and screen star Burgess (The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid) and Dungey (Harlem) and a score by Burgess. Set in Harlem, it follows Preacher Henry and his wife Julia, who struggle to keep their congregation going. When all seems lost, Henry asks God for help and receives it in the form of an angel. Casting and additional creative team members will be announced at a later time for the Coca-Cola Stage production which is scheduled for May 11-June 9, 2024.
Directors have also been announced for the remaining productions which fill Alliance Theatre's 55th season. The Coca-Cola Stage will also feature The Shining, co-produced with The Atlanta Opera, directed by Brian Staufenbiel September 15-October 1. Brendan Pelsue's world-premiere adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities will be directed by Leora Morris February 21-March 17, 2024.
Shadi Ghaheri will direct the Atlanta premiere of Sanaz Toossi's Obie-winning English, the inaugural production of Alliance's Hertz Stage season (August 16- September 17). The world premiere of a.k. payne's Furlough's Paradise will be directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden January 31-March 3, 2024. The Hertz will also welcome James Ijames' 2022 Pulitzer-winning and 2023 Tony-nominated Fat Ham with Stevie Walker-Webb at the helm April 3-May 12, 2024.
For the Youth and Family Series productions, three directors have been announced. Jamil Jude will helm The Incredible Book Eating Boy musical with associate director Sam Provenzano July 1-23, 202, at Kennesaw State University's Howard Logan Stillwell Theatre. Mark Valdez will direct the world premiere of his musical Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale, inspired by the stories of Beatrix Potter, October 14-December 23 at the Hertz. David H. Bell's adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will be directed by Caitlin Hargraces on The Coca-Cola Stage November 11-December 24.
While memberships to the season are already on sale, single tickets for individual productions will go on sale next month.
“We selected a variety of stories that honor the diverse and aspirational quality of this extraordinary city—new stories from new voices, familiar stories told in new and surprising ways, and new partnerships with local and national arts organizations,” said Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director Christopher Moses. “It's a season tied together by the promise of hope—hope that this art form remains essential, hope that our community sees itself on our stage, and most of all, the increased sense of hope that comes from experiencing powerful stories created by our country's finest artists.”
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