Broadway Buzz: Classic Musical Returns for Black History Month

Families in New York who are looking for ways to celebrate African American Heritage Month (formerly, and popularly, known as Black History Month) may want to grab tickets for the upcoming City Center Encores! staged concert of Lost in the Stars. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1949, has book and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson and music by Kurt Weill, and is based on the classic novel Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton.

The book and musical both follow the struggles of a South African family dealing with crime and injustice just as apartheid was becoming law in the country. Its title song became a jazz hit for such artists as Anita O'Day, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Sarah Vaughan.

As with most Encores! concerts, Lost in the Stars will feature some top Broadway talent, including Chuck Cooper (Tony-winner for The Life), Daniel Breaker (who starred as Donkey in the stage adaptation of Shrek, and earned a Tony nomination for his performance in Passing Strange) and Patina Miller, who will be seen on Broadway this spring in the musical adaptation of Sister Act.

The concert will run from February 3 to 6. Tickets can be purchased at www.nycitycenter.org.