a new musical by Robert Bartley and Danny Whitman
September 14 – 30 at the Eisemann Center – 972-744-4650
Escaping bloodshed in Cuba, a young man sets sail on a turbulent journey that leads him all the way to Hollywood and into the arms of a fiery, redheaded movie star named Lucille Ball.
In The Cuban and the Redhead, Desi and Lucy put their egos and dreams of stardom on the line in a gamble to save one thing—their marriage—risking it all on an untested and floundering new medium called television. Can these two star-crossed lovers blaze a path that defies Hollywood and history to be together?
The Cuban and the Redhead, with book, music and lyrics by Robert Bartley and Danny Whitman, is a brand-new original musical that follows in the footsteps of Gypsy, Jersey Boys, Dreamgirls and Funny Girl honoring famous icons. With an original score that features sounds from 1940s Big Band to hot Latin rhythms, The Cuban and the Redhead is the story of how Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz struggled against all odds to be together and wound up making television history in the process.
Co-Creator Robert Bartley will direct and choreograph. Adam Roberts will co-choreograph. Chris Littlefield will be the music director. Set design by Amelia Bransky. Lighting design by Dan Shoedel. Costume Design by Bruce Coleman. Sound Design by Jason Biggs. Wigs and specialty make-up by Michael B. Moore. Props design by John Harvey.
The cast includes: Stephan Bates, Sarah Comley Caldwell, Robin Clayton, Mattie Lillian Davis, Myiesha J. Duff, Jonathan Garcia, Clint Gilbert, Mary Jerome, Logan Lane, Beth Lipton, Janelle Lutz, Quinn Moran, Rodney Morris, Jonah Munroe, Kelley Norman, Kimberly Pine, Elizabeth Piper, Matt Ransdell Jr., Sheila D. Rose, Dan Servetnick, Joshua Sherman, Carlos Strudwick, Keith J. Warren.