Billy Porter Joins Audra McDonald in Shuffle Along

The jazz musical Shuffle Along or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed was one of the first all-black shows on Broadway and launched the careers of Josephine Baker, Adelaide Hall, and Paul Robeson after it premiered in 1921. Created by songwriting team Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake with librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles, it became such a hit that it caused "curtain time traffic jams" on 63rd Street at the time. And the revival is shaping up to be something special with Audra McDonald starring as Lottie Gee and Billy Porter and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Tony Award winners for Kinky Boots and Kiss Me, Kate, respectively) joining the cast. Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple, Motown) and Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys, "Violet) have signed on to the production as well.

George C. Wolfe is directing and writing a new book for the production, which will be choreographed by Savion Glover (the first time the two have worked together since 1996's Bring in 'da Noice, Bring in 'da Funk). Shuffle Along begins previews March 14, and it will have its official opening night April 21 at the Music Box Theater, New York City.