Studdard hits his stride in Ain’t Misbehavin’
Johnson County Community College
Press Release
College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122
11/3/08
Story by Peggy Graham
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Studdard hits his stride in Ain’t Misbehavin’
The lovable and talented 2003 American Idol-winner Ruben Studdard will star as Fats Waller in the national tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 12-13, in Yardley Hall in the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College. William Everett, musicologist at the University of Missouri, will present Artists Insights at 7 p.m. Dec. 12, and Paul Laird, musicologist at the University of Kansas, will present Dec. 13.
For this 30th anniversary tour of the Tony-Award winning musical, Studdard joins a topnotch cast, including fellow American Idol-contestant Frenchie Davis and a sassy all-star on-stage band.
Ain't Misbehavin’ is a musical revue featuring music by American pianist/composer
Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller and pays tribute to black musicians who were part of the Harlem Renaissance. Taking its name from Waller’s 1929 tune Ain’t Misbehavin’, the fast-moving revue cruises through 30 Waller originals with notables like Honeysuckle Rose, Black and Blue, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Two Sleepy People, I've Got My Fingers Crossed, I Can't Give You Anything but Love and It's a Sin to Tell a Lie.
Born May 21, 1904, in New York City, Waller overcame the displeasure of his minister father to become a professional pianist and a student of the stride school of jazz piano. He was one of the few American jazz musicians to win commercial success. Usually remembered as a comedic entertainer, Waller is also one of the greatest of all jazz pianists and a gifted prolific songwriter of the 1920s and ’30s. He appeared in several films including Stormy Weather.
Waller died Dec. 15, 1943, right here in Kansas City’s Union Station, stopped in his private railroad car while returning from Los Angeles to New York.
Studdard is a perfect choice to play the gifted Waller. An American pop, R&B and gospel singer, he rose to fame as winner of the second season of the American Idol television program, when guest judge Gladys Knight dubbed him the “Velvet Teddy Bear.” He has recorded four albums – Soulful and Flying Without Wings (2003), I Need an Angel (2004) and The Return (2006).
Frenchie Davis, who was recently seen in Mahalia – A Gospel Musical and made her Broadway debut in Rent, plays the role made famous by the late Nell Carter in the original 1978 production.
Richard Malty Jr., author and director of the 1978 Broadway premiere, recreates his original direction for this anniversary tour.
Tickets for Ain’t Misbehavin’ are $45 and $55, available by calling the Carlsen Center box office at 913-469-4445 or online at www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter.