Eight people join hands in prayer around a long table.

The company of Grace. Photo by André Chung.

Grace

A world-premiere musical by Nolan Williams, Jr., celebrating African-American food, family and tradition.

March 19, 2022 — May 14, 2022

1 Hour 35 Minutes. No Intermission

Recommended for ages 8 and older.

Accessible

With Grace, Williams pays homage to African-American musical traditions with his rich compositions that fuse the sounds of classical, jazz, R&B, soul and spirituals.

Created by Washington, D.C.,’s own celebrated composer Nolan Williams, Jr., with a book by Nolan Williams, Jr. and Pulitzer-prize nominated and OBIE award-winning actress and writer Nikkole Salter, Grace examines the little-told history of African-American culinary tradition and the challenges faced by Black-owned businesses. The musical captures a day in the life of the Mintons, a Philadelphia family who gather to mourn the loss of their matriarch and deal with the future of their family restaurant in a changing neighborhood. Heartfelt and hopeful, timely and timeless, Grace is the new American musical where, although family comes first, everyone has a seat at the table.

Produced by special arrangement with Edgewood and NEWorks Productions

COVID-19 Health and Safety
We’ve made some changes to help keep you, our staff and our artists safe and healthy. Please visit COVID-19 Health and Safety to learn more.

Teachable Moments

Grace is a musical that examines the struggle of the Minton family, who gather to mourn the loss of the family matriarch and contend with keeping their family-owned restaurant afloat in a gentrified Philadelphia. In this lesson, students will explore the show, the causes of gentrification, and the role students can play in shaping or preserving the history of communities experiencing change.

See the Lesson Plan

Artistic Team

Music and Lyrics by Nolan Williams, Jr.

Book by Nolan Williams, Jr. and Nikkole Salter

Directed and Choreographed by Robert Barry Fleming

Scenic Design Jason Ardizzone-West

Costume Design Dominique Fawn Hill

Lighting Design Xavier Pierce

Sound Design David Budries

Hair and Wig Design Nikiya Mathis

Orchestrations Joseph Joubert

Dramaturg Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Creative Consultant Sheldon Epps

NY Casting Stephanie Klapper Casting

Production Stage Manager Craig A. Horness

Stage Manager Jessica R. Aguilar

Assistant Stage Manager Taryn Friend

Cast

David Hughey

Paul

Arica Jackson

Haley

Raquel Jennings

Jacqui

Rayshun LaMarr

Joshua

Jarran Muse

Solomon Parker III

Lawrence

Nova Y. Payton

Ruthie

Virginia Ann Woodruff

Miss Minnie

LaDonna Burns

Understuddy

Jay Frisby

Understudy

Duawne Starling

Understudy

Kai B. White

Understudy

Musicians

Keys I/Conductor Paul Byssainthe, Jr.

Keys II Marika Countouris/Nathan Blustein

Reeds 1: Piccolo/Flute/Clarinet/ Oboe/Alto Sax Ben Bokor

Reeds 1: Flute/Clarinet/ Bassoon/Tenor Sax Kelsey Mire

Trumpet/Flugelhorn Kieron Irvine

Trombone Christopher Steele

Bass Eliot Seppa

Drums/Percussion Carroll “CV” Dashiell III

From the Gallery

Two women laugh together as they bump hips.

Raquel Jennings as Jacqui and Arica Jackson as Haley in the 2022 Ford’s Theatre world-premiere musical “Grace.” Photo by André Chung.

A man dances behind a DJ turntable with one arm raised over his head.

Rayshun LaMarr in the 2022 Ford’s Theatre world-premiere musical “Grace.” Photo by André Chung.

Five cousins huddle together singing expressively.

Arica Jackson (Haley), Nova Y. Payton (Ruthie), Raquel Jennings (Jacqui), Solomon Parker III (Lawrence) and Rayshun LaMarr (Joshua) in the 2022 Ford’s Theatre world-premiere musical “Grace.” Photo by André Chung.

A woman stands center stage singing with arms expressively extended above her head.

Nova Y. Payton as Ruthie in the 2022 Ford’s Theatre world-premiere musical “Grace.” Photo by André Chung.

The company of the 2022 Ford’s Theatre world-premiere musical “Grace.” Photo by André Chung.

Wide view of the "Grace" set model showing the Ford's Theatre boxes on either side of the stage. Set features a grey-brick row house painted with a three-story mural. In the courtyard below are arranged several rectangular tables and chairs.

Scenic Design for “Grace” by by Jason Ardizzone-West.

Tight view of the "Grace" set model featuring a grey-brick row house painted with a three-story mural. In the courtyard below are arranged several rectangular tables and chairs.

Scenic Design for “Grace” by by Jason Ardizzone-West.

Set model of a grey-brick row house painted with a three-story wall mural. Mural features the faces of historic Black Philadelphian caterers and chefs. A series of metal fire-escape stairways lead to the three levels of the row house. In the courtyard below are arranged several rectangular tables and chairs.

Scenic Design for “Grace” by by Jason Ardizzone-West.

"A Knockout of a Musical!"

– Metro Weekly

"A mouth-watering dish of family and community served up with super-charged music and vocals."

– Broadway World

Behind-the-Scenes Theatre

Composer Nolan Williams, Jr. Talks Grace the Musical at Ford’s Theatre

This winter we spoke with D.C. composer Nolan Williams, Jr., about his process of creating the musical Grace, which has its world premiere at Ford’s Theatre in March-May 2022.

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