The world premiere of A.D. 16, a musical by Bekah Brunstetter (This Is Us) and Cinco Paul (Schmigadoon!), kicked off February 4 at the Olney Theatre Center in Maryland. Starring Phoenix Best (Dear Evan Hansen) and Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), it tells the story of a teenaged Mary Magdalene and her infatuation with her next-door neighbor, Jesus. The production is slated to run through March 6.
Alongside Best and Fankhauser, A.D. 16 stars Kelli Blackwell as Diana, Alan H. Green as Jacob, Jade Jones as Jessica, Jared Loftin as Nicholas, Calvin McCullough as Matthias, Adelina Mitchell as Ruth, Christian Montgomery as Bartimaeus, Da’Von Moody as Simeon, and Chani Wereley as Esther. The musical teases an R&B score, and both a comedic and heartfelt storyline.
Read what critics had to say about A.D. 16 in the reviews below:
D.C. Metro Theater Arts (Darby DeJarnette)
MD Theater Guide (Andrew White)
Playbill will continue to update this page as reviews come in.
The show's cast is rounded out by ensemble members Alex De Bard, Sylvern Groomes, RJ Pavel, John Sygar, and Kanysha Williams, and swings James Mernin, Tiffany Lyn Royster, Candance Shedd-Thompson, and Chris Urquiaga.
A.D. 16 features direction by Be More Chill's Stephen Brackett, choreography by Katie Spelman (Moulin Rouge), music direction by Christopher Youstra, and orchestrations by Tony winner Doug Besterman (Thoroughly Modern Millie).
More information and tickets can be found at OlneyTheatre.org.
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