2003 Idol Champion Headlines Tour of Musical Ain’t Misbehavin’


Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard

The 30th Anniversary National Tour of the Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ starring Ruben Studdard comes to the Johnny Mercer Theatre in Savannah for one performance only Sunday, January 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets, priced from $30 to $50, went on sale Monday, December 1 and can be purchased at the Johnny Mercer Theatre box office, online at www.savannahcivic. com or charged by phone at 912-651-6556. Discounts are available for subscribers and groups of 20 or more by calling 912-651- 6557.

In an interview with

The Savannah Tribune’s Sharon Smiley, the 2003 American Idol Ruben Studdard said he is excited to share some of the most famous songs of Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller with his Savannah audience.

“Come and enjoy a night of music, fun and the brilliance that is “Fats” Waller,” Studdard said. “This is a great show with lots of great music for the entire family,” he declared.

Dubbed “The Velvet Teddy Bear” by legendary R&B soulstress Gladys Knight, Studdard shot to fame in 2003 after winning the TV talent competition smash hit AMERICAN IDOL. The Grammy-nominated star will be joined on stage by two other AMERICAN IDOL alums: 2003 contestant and star of Broadway’s RENT Frenchie Davis along with 2003 top five finalist Trenyce Cobbins. Together with a first-class cast and a live, onstage band, they will bring classic popular hits like “Honeysuckle Rose,” “This Joint is Jumpin’,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” and the title song “Ain’t Misbehavin'” to life. Further casting will be announced shortly.

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ is a musical revue with a book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby, Jr., music by Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller, orchestrations and additional music by Luther Henderson, and lyrics by various writers. Fats Waller, the outrageously prodigious comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem, lives on in this rollicking, finger-snapping show that is still considered one of Broadway’s most well crafted revues.

Legendary Broadway director and author Richard Maltby Jr. (Miss Saigon, Fosse, Big, Song and Dance, The Pirate Queen) recreates his Tony Award-winning direction for this production. Tony Award-winner John Lee Beatty also recreates his original scenic design.

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ originally opened in the Manhattan Theatre Club’s East 73rd Street Cabaret on February 8, 1978 with featured singer Irene Cara. The show was an instant hit among theatergoers, and was quickly developed into a full-scale Broadway production. The show launched the career of the late Nell Carter, and won the 1978 Tony- Awards for Best Musical and Best Performance by a Featured Actress for Ms. Carter. In 1988, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ was revived on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre, with Carter as an above-the-title star.

The 30th Anniversary Tour of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ is executive produced by Daniel Sher of Big League Productions.

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