![]() It’s not big on characterization, but it has something intangible that makes me urge you not to miss this show.įor tickets and information, visit. “Nick’s” is bracing, vibrant, romantic, tragic-and well-nigh irresistible. (This is why I mentioned New Orleans earlier but that’s not where “Nick’s Flamingo Grill” happened. The performers gallantly do their best to recover, but it’s not easy. There is a bombing of the club-more than one. Racism, sexism, homophobia-all rear their ugly heads. Jimmy Kieffer, Antwayn Hopper, and Diany Rodriguez.īut-this is 1950’s Atlanta. Demesier’s Claudine is enchanting when she’s onstage, you tend to focus on her. DePoy writes lyrics and additional music (a true Renaissance man). Tyrone Jackson is the composer, orchestrator, and music director he’s terrific. In fact, every actor I’ve mentioned is top notch, and most sing like a dream. Rodriguez, one of the most versatile actor-singers in Atlanta, just keeps on getting better. The audience sits on either side of the stage every seat is a good one. They stayed in Paris a bit after the war and played at Le Mars Club.ĭirector Kajese-Bolden and scenic designer Robinson are brilliantly successful in creating an enticing jazz club ambience. However, thanks to the playwright’s powerful dramatic imagination, the story of “Nick’s Flamingo Grill” begins in Paris during World War II when friends Chi-Chi (Diany Rodriguez), Ben (Jimmy Kieffer), Bechet (Antwayn Hopper), and Claudine (Shakirah Demesier) became pals and bonded over jazz and gumbo, made by friend Nick (Cordell Cole). It reminds me a bit of “Brigadoon,” the Lerner and Lowe musical about a Scottish village which appears for one day every hundred years. DePoy has interviewed several musicians and audience members, and something existed there. He suspects it never had a business license or even a name.” The program notes the club was “more of an ad-hoc jam spot in a run-down building than an actual club” and interestingly, “DePoy has never been able to find verifiable proof of its existence. DePoy and his brother were children, their dad, a musician, would play music there with top-notch musicians for integrated audiences. Colors are lime green/ yellow background with pink flamingos, ranch house, BBQ grill. Disgraced, In Love and Warcraft, Troubadour, Nicks Flamingo Grill, Candide (with The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra), 53 Of., Beautiful Blackbird. It seems there was a short-lived downtown jazz club back then, and when Mr.
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