‘Blues in the Night’ explores life, love through music at Meadow Brook
The four characters in Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of “Blues in the Night” share their life experiences through classic songs from such great artists as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mercer and Bessie Smith. The show runs through March 12 at the theatre in Rochester Hills.
“They’re (the characters) in a cheap hotel and the music gets them through this long, lonely night,” said director/choreographer Tyrick Wiltez Jones of New York City. The Lady from the Road (Angela Birchett, a Detroiter) was the ‘it’ girl in her day and she’s trying to get back to her heyday as a singer, vaudeville performer, dancer, and leading lady. That’s why she has the blues,” said Jones.
The Woman of the World (played by Jameelah Leaundra of Germany) “hasn’t been there as long, but she pretends as if everything is fabulous. She talks about the lush life. She wants the career The Lady had. The Girl (or Girl with a Date, played by Jackey Good of New York City) is hopeful and wants love.
“The Man (or Man in the Saloon, played by Parnell Damone Marcano, of Los Angeles) watches everything. He does everything — bartender, sits in and sings in with band, cleans rooms. He knows everything about everybody.”
Jones has been in show business since he was 16 years old. He’s performed in the Broadway musicals “Finian’s Rainbow” and “Hairspray.” He was in “Bat Out of Hell,” based on Meat Loaf’s greatest hits. He’s been in commercials, films, and choreographed and directed productions. He’s choreographed productions at Meadow Brook.
Birchett, a native Detroiter who now lives in New Jersey, said she would compare her character, The Lady, to Eartha Kitt. “She’s a worldly woman who has traveled, and experienced pain and disappointment, particularly in her love life and career. She’s always been a well-sought-after performer. Everyone wanted her presence. Nobody cared about her. They cared about how she made them feel when she got up on stage. She’s been in (the) hotel the longest.”
“She performs ‘Buggy Ride’ and ‘Kitchen Man’ — both have comical undertones and are a little raunchy. The audience should prepare themselves to blush a little bit.”
Birchett was born and raised in the Detroit area and taught music in the Detroit Public Schools. She moved to New York in 2006 and made her Broadway debut in the 2015 revival of “The Color Purple.” (She was a swing — covering multiple parts when a cast member was out). During the national tour, which made a stop at the Fisher Theatre, she played the lead church lady in 2017.
“I did a couple of films for Lifetime — one of which was a biopic of the Clark Sisters (gospel singers from Detroit). I played the eldest sister, Jacky Clark Chisholm.” The film reached 11 million viewers in its opening weekend, making it the most viewed premier on cable TV in 2020. It was one of her most rewarding roles, she noted.
While “the women do the heavy lifting, “The Man observes all the stuff going on and makes commentary on songs and conversations,” said Marcano. “I sing ‘When a Woman Loves a Man’ based on my observations of what these women have been going through. Angela (The Lady) and my character are frenemies.”
As a longtime background vocalist for Mary Wilson, founding member of The Supremes, Marcano says he feels “this Motown Detroit connection. I sang background vocals for Mary Wilson for 27 before she passed away. We went all over the world. I always bill myself as the one and only male Supreme.”
Marcano has performed in a variety of Los Angeles regional theater productions, including “Dreamgirls,” “Ragtime,” “Hello Dolly” and “The Producers.” In 2016, he was an actor/singer in the Off Broadway production of “The Babies.” He played the choir director in the TV show, “Greenleaf” from 2016-2020. For the past eight years, he has performed with Thelma Houston.
Brittanie Nichole Sicker is stage manager with scenic design by Kristen Gribbin, costume design by Karen Kangas-Preston, lighting design by Neil Koivu, and sound design by Mike Duncan. Brian E. Buckner is the musical director.
Jones said the audiences will “laugh and want to dance. Some songs will bring up emotions. One lady said, ‘It makes me want to go to church.’”
“Blues in the Night” runs through March 12 at Meadow Brook Theatre, 2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester
Hills. Tickets start at $37.
For more information about performance times or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 248-377-3300 or go to ticketmaster.com.