Stage Production Notes
Passing Strange began life at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004. Developed in collaboration with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Doren, the musical was a loosely based on its composer and writer, Stew, who left his conventional religious Los Angeles home to travel and find “the real.”
After a season at the Berkeley Repetory Theatre, Passing Strange transferred to the Public Theatre in New York City in 2007.
Following 20 previews, Passing Strange opened at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway on February 28, 2008.
The production was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, winning for Best Book of a Musical, and 8 Drama Desk Awards, winning for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, and Outstanding Music.
In a rave review for the New York Times, theatre critic Charles Isherwood stated, “Call it a rock concert with a story to tell… Call it whatever you want, really. I’ll just call it wonderful, and a welcome anomaly on Broadway…”
Passing Strange closed on Broadway after 165 performances on July 20, 2008.
The show was made available for licensing through Dramatists Play Services, and has since been staged by regional companies around the United States.
Passing Strange began life at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004. Developed in collaboration with Heidi Rodewald and Annie Doren, the musical was a loosely based on its composer and writer, Stew, who left his conventional religious Los Angeles home to travel and find “the real.”
After a season at the Berkeley Repetory Theatre, Passing Strange transferred to the Public Theatre in New York City in 2007.
Following 20 previews, Passing Strange opened at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway on February 28, 2008.
The production was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, winning for Best Book of a Musical, and 8 Drama Desk Awards, winning for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, and Outstanding Music.
In a rave review for the New York Times, theatre critic Charles Isherwood stated, “Call it a rock concert with a story to tell… Call it whatever you want, really. I’ll just call it wonderful, and a welcome anomaly on Broadway…”
Passing Strange closed on Broadway after 165 performances on July 20, 2008.
The show was made available for licensing through Dramatists Play Services, and has since been staged by regional companies around the United States.
Filmed Production Notes
In early July 2008, it was announced that director Spike Lee would be filming Passing Strange. Two performances were filmed on July 19 in front of a live audience, and two more performances were filmed shortly afterwards to allow for close-ups and more dynamic camera angles.
Titled Passing Strange: The Movie, the film capture debuted at the 25th annual Sundance Film Festival early in 2009, marking Spike Lee’s first film in the festival.
In May 2009, Passing Strange aired at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The film was released in cinemas across the United States in August 2009.
Passing Strange: The Movie received high critical praise. In a review for NPR’s All Things Considered, Bob Mondello described the film as a “strikingly original stage-to-film hybrid.” Writing for the New York Times, film critic A.O. Scott stated that he had not been moved by the Broadway production, yet upon viewing the film, he was “blown away.” Scott noted that the film was essentially a video recording of the Broadway production, but that Spike Lee’s directorial edits had improved the flow of the musical.
Passing Strange was released on television in January 2010, via PBS’ Great Performances. The DVD was released shortly after. It was also briefly available to view on Amazon.
Passing Strange: The Movie is available to view on DVD and Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from these links).
In early July 2008, it was announced that director Spike Lee would be filming Passing Strange. Two performances were filmed on July 19 in front of a live audience, and two more performances were filmed shortly afterwards to allow for close-ups and more dynamic camera angles.
Titled Passing Strange: The Movie, the film capture debuted at the 25th annual Sundance Film Festival early in 2009, marking Spike Lee’s first film in the festival.
In May 2009, Passing Strange aired at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The film was released in cinemas across the United States in August 2009.
Passing Strange: The Movie received high critical praise. In a review for NPR’s All Things Considered, Bob Mondello described the film as a “strikingly original stage-to-film hybrid.” Writing for the New York Times, film critic A.O. Scott stated that he had not been moved by the Broadway production, yet upon viewing the film, he was “blown away.” Scott noted that the film was essentially a video recording of the Broadway production, but that Spike Lee’s directorial edits had improved the flow of the musical.
Passing Strange was released on television in January 2010, via PBS’ Great Performances. The DVD was released shortly after. It was also briefly available to view on Amazon.
Passing Strange: The Movie is available to view on DVD and Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from these links).
Passing Strange PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Belasco Theatre
Producer: Spike Lee, Steve Klein, Shubert Organization, Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Public Theatre, Berkeley Rep
Book/Lyrics: Stew
Music: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Director: Annie Dorsen
Musical Director: Heidi Rodewald
Orchestrations: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Choreography: Karole Armitage
Scenic Design: David Korins
Costume Design: Elizabeth Hope Clancy
Lighting Design: Kevin Adams
Sound Design: Tom Morse
Cast: Stew (Narrator), Daniel Breaker (Youth), De’Adre Aziza (Edwina/Marianna/Sudabey), Eisa Davis (Mother), Colman Domingo (Franklin/Joop/Mr. Venus), Chad Goodridge (Terry/Christophe/Hugo), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Sherry/Renata/Desi), Heidi Rodewald (Bass/Vocals). Jon Spurney (Keyboard/Guitar/Backing Vocals), Christian Gibbs (Guitar/Keyboard/Backing Vocals)
Theatre: Belasco Theatre
Producer: Spike Lee, Steve Klein, Shubert Organization, Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Public Theatre, Berkeley Rep
Book/Lyrics: Stew
Music: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Director: Annie Dorsen
Musical Director: Heidi Rodewald
Orchestrations: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Choreography: Karole Armitage
Scenic Design: David Korins
Costume Design: Elizabeth Hope Clancy
Lighting Design: Kevin Adams
Sound Design: Tom Morse
Cast: Stew (Narrator), Daniel Breaker (Youth), De’Adre Aziza (Edwina/Marianna/Sudabey), Eisa Davis (Mother), Colman Domingo (Franklin/Joop/Mr. Venus), Chad Goodridge (Terry/Christophe/Hugo), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Sherry/Renata/Desi), Heidi Rodewald (Bass/Vocals). Jon Spurney (Keyboard/Guitar/Backing Vocals), Christian Gibbs (Guitar/Keyboard/Backing Vocals)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Mike Boehm, “Spike Lee to make Sundance debut with musical "Passing Strange”,” Los Angeles Times (Dec 6, 2008) Broadway.com staff, “Details of Spike Lee's Passing Strange Film Announced,” Broadway.com (July 9, 2008)
- Andrew Gans, “Passing Strange: The Movie Due on DVD Jan. 12,” Playbill (Jan 6, 2010)
- Andrew Gans, Adam Hetrick, “Spike Lee to Film Broadway's Passing Strange,” Playbill (July 4, 2008)
- Andrew Gans, Adam Hetrick, “PBS will broadcast Spike Lee's concert documentary of the award-winning Broadway rock musical Passing Strange,” Playbill (May 1, 2009)
- Adam Hetrick, “"Life Is a Movie Too": Passing Strange Film to Premiere at Sundance,” Playbill (Dec 4, 2008)
- Adam Hetrick, “PLAYBILL VIP SPOTLIGHT: New York City High School Is First to Stage Rock Musical Passing Strange,” Playbill (May 8, 2014)
- Charles Isherwood, “It’s A Hard Rock Life,” New York Times (Feb 29, 2008)
- Bob Mondello, “Wondrous 'Strange': Spike Lee Makes A Musical” NPR: All Things Considered (Aug 29, 2009)
- A.O. Scott, “A Young Artist’s Journey, This Time on Film,” New York Times (Aug 20, 2009)
- Nicole Sperling, “Spike Lee to film Broadway's 'Passing Strange' for TV,” Entertainment Weekly (July 3, 2008)
Websites
- Internet Broadway Database, “Passing Strange,” Accessed via: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/passing-strange-475091/#opennightcredit
- PBS: Great Performances, “Preview the Rock Musical,” Accessed via: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/passing-strange-preview-the-rock-musical/903/
- Playbill, “Inside the Playbill: Passing Strange - Opening Night at the Belasco Theatre” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/playbillpagegallery/inside-playbill?asset=00000150-aea6-d936-a7fd-eef6b8d50000&type=InsidePlaybill&slide=3
Written by Luisa Lyons (March, 2017)