Following its critically-acclaimed and sold-out run at the Young Vic, the award-winning musical The Scottsboro Boys is to transfer to the West End’s Garrick Theatre
The award-winning musical is coming to the West End
The powerful and elating Kander and Ebb team musical was nominated for six Olivier Awards this year, including Best New Musical. The show won the Best Musical of 2013 at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.
An affecting influencer of the American Civil Rights Movement
The Scottsboro Boys is centred on a true story that had a compelling effect on the American Civil Rights Movement. It follows the lives of nine young black men in the 1930s. The men – aged between 12 and 19 – are travelling on the train through Scottsboro in Alabama in search of a new life.
The men are wrongly accused of rape, are sent to jail and, without good lawyers are sentenced to death. The trial of these nine young black men divided a nation and consequently played a pivotal role in advancing legal representation in America. The men’s trials led to the passage of two important Supreme Court rulings, ultimately meaning that black people could no longer be excluded from juries.
In 2013 the Scottsboro Act was finally passed, a historic piece of legislation to exonerate the last eight of the nine boys, an incredible 82 years later.
Kander and Ebb at their most influential
This powerful and moving musical has music and lyrics by the American composer John Kander and the American musical theatre lyricist Fred Ebb. Kander and Ebb became a highly successful songwriting team, who were known primarily for their musicals.
The Scottsboro Boys’ direction and choreography is by the American theatre director, choreographer and film director, Susan Stroman. Stroman has enjoyed a career littered with awards, including winning the Tony Award five times, four for Best Choreography and one as Best Director.
The casting for The Scottsboro Boys at The Garrick Theatre has yet to be announced.
The show will run at The Garrick Theatre from October 4, 2014, with a press night taking place on October 20. It will take the place of Twelve Angry Men, which is due to close in June.
Click here to buy tickets for the inspiring show that sold out at the Young Vic in London.
