EBONY REPERTORY THEATRE PRESENTS “FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE” A MUSICAL BY CLARKE PETERS FEATURING LOUIS JORDAN’S GREATEST HITS DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY KEITH YOUNG MUSICAL DIRECTION BY ABDUL HAMID ROYAL

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 3, 2017) Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT – Producing Artistic Director, Wren T. Brown) presents FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE starring Emmy Award-winner Obba Babatundé (Dreamgirls – Tony Award nomination, Broadway’s Chicago, CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful) as “Nomax.” This exuberant, international hit musical, written by Clarke Peters, pays tribute to the music of rhythm and blues pioneer Louis Jordan. ERT’s production will commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of the musical’s Broadway production. FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE is directed and choreographed by Keith Young (Sammy) with musical direction by Abdul Hamid Royal (Five Guys Named Moe/original Broadway production). Performances will play May 18 through June 11, 2017, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 20 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles, 90016.

In addition to Obba Babatundé, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE also stars:

Broadway productions of Mary Poppins, Hairspray, The Lion King

Broadway and National Tour productions of Book of Mormon,

Broadway’s The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess

Broadway’s In the Heights (original Broadway cast),

Showtime’s Ray Donovan, Straight Outta Compton

Broadway’s Rent, The Pasadena Playhouse’s 12 Angry Men, HBO’s Oz

Candlelight Pavilion’s The Buddy Holly Story

Note: Reginald VelJohnson, who was previously announced to play the role of “Big Moe,” is unable to continue with the production due to a scheduling conflict.

Joining the creative team of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE are Edward E. Haynes, Scenic Design; Naila Aladdin Sanders, Costume Design; Dan Weingarten, Lighting Design; John Feinstein, Sound Design and Ed De Shae, Production Stage Manager.

“Ebony Repertory Theatre is very excited to present FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE in the 25^th Anniversary year of its Broadway debut,” said Wren T. Brown, ERT Producing Artistic Director.  “I will never forget the sheer excitement I felt while sitting in the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Broadway in 1992 watching six wonderfully talented men and a most swinging band celebrate the music and persona of the seminal and pioneering saxophonist, singer and bandleader Louis Jordan.  In addition, we are thrilled to have Keith Young make his Los Angeles directorial debut with this production.  We are also honored to have the original Musical Director of the Broadway production, Abdul Hamid Royal, leading the band. And of course, we are overjoyed to have the gifted triple-threat Obba Babatundé as Nomax and all of the company of actors and designers we’ve assembled,” said Producing Artistic Director, Wren T. Brown.

Director Keith Young said, “I am humbled and honored to have the privilege to rediscover and celebrate Clarke Peters’ gem, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, and to work with this enormously talented cast. The jubilant music of Louis Jordan fuels this life lesson and the self reckoning of a troubled, down and out over indulger Nomax…performed by the inimitable Obba Babatunde.” Young added, “I am excited and eager, to relish in the textures of Louis Jordan’s music, and let the good times roll…”

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE celebrates the music of “The King of the Jukebox,” the pioneering saxophonist, singer and bandleader Louis Jordan. The musical tells the story about the heroic Nomax — who is down on his luck, his girlfriend Lorraine has left him, he’s been drinking and he’s listening to the radio at 4:45 am. Emerging from his radio, the Moes – No Moe, Little Moe, Four Eyed Moe, Eat Moe, and Big Moe – encourage Nomax through song and stories to turn his life around and tell Lorraine that he loves her.

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE began its unlikely journey with a six-week run at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. With a growing following, and enthusiastic reviews, producers came to see it. Cameron Mackintosh was captivated and brought the musical to London’s West End Lyric Theatre in 1990 where it played until 1995 when it moved to the Albery Theatre.  In 1992, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE made its Broadway debut at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it played 445 performances and 19 previews. The musical’s legacy was set. The show’s popularity grew, as regional and touring productions wowed audiences across the U.S. and the world.

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) is the resident company and operator of the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. ERT is Los Angeles’ only African American professional theatre company. Under Wren T. Brown’s producorial leadership, ERT has produced Ovation Award and NAACP Theatre Award-winning productions of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In the Sun. Last season’s Gospel At Colonus, which stared Tony Award-winner Roger Robinson, garnered 14 Ovation Award nominations. Other ERT productions include: Jeff Stetson’s Fraternity and Phillip Hayes Dean’s Robeson, among others.

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE plays May 18, 2017 – June 11, 2017, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 20 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles.  Two preview performances are scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets range from $30 – $55 and are available online at ebonyrep.org or by phone at 323-964-9766.  Groups of 10 or more are available via email at [email protected] or 323-964-9766.

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