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Before Hamilton, before In the Heights, there was @FreestyleLove! The Tony Award-winning blend of hip-hop, theater, and music makes its Philadelphia premiere, June 7-12, 2022 @KimmelCenter (Twitter) @KimmelCulturalCampus (Facebook/Instagram) Visit www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for info.
Press Contacts:
Lauren Hall Carole J. Morganti Bryan Buttler
215-790-5835 609-953-0570 609-902-0923
lhall@kimmelcenter.org CJMprj01@aol.com bryan@bryanbuttlermediarelations.com
RECIPIENT OF 2020 SPECIAL TONY AWARD®
NATIONAL TOUR OF FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME COMING TO
KIMMELCULTURAL CAMPUS’ MILLER THEATER
JUNE 7 – 12, 2022
THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED HIP-HOP SENSATION, CONCEIVED BY
PHILADELPHIA NATIVE ANTHONY VENEZIALE AND
CREATED BY THOMAS KAIL, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, AND
VENEZIALE
“Pure joy” – Rolling Stone
“Lightning in a bottle” – Entertainment Weekly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, April 25, 2022) – Following a successful limited Broadway engagement this fall that included a 2020 Special Tony Award®, the critically-acclaimed improv sensation FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME, conceived by Philadelphia native Anthony Veneziale and created by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Anthony Veneziale, announced a national tour coming to the Kimmel Cultural Campus’ Miller Theater from June 7-12, 2022. The Broadway series in Philadelphia is presented by the Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization.
Produced by Kail, Miranda, Jenny & Jon Steingart, and Jill Furman, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME is an intermission-less, roller-coaster ride of a show that Rolling Stone calls “pure joy” and Entertainment Weekly describes as “lightning in a bottle.”
“Because the performers take suggestions from audience members during each performance, which they then spin into riffs and full-length musical numbers, no two performances of Freestyle Love Supreme are the same,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. “We look forward to welcoming audiences for repeat visits during Freestyle Love Supreme’s special limited engagement. From the brilliant mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda, in partnership with Philadelphia native Anthony Veneziale, this electrifying show appeals to fans of hip-hop, musical theater, and comedic improv, as well as newcomers to the theater.”
Created before In the Heights and Hamilton and directed by Kail, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME is a thrilling, improvised musical comedy show that features talented performers providing non-stop action throughout this fast-paced evening, spinning suggestions from the audience into humorous bits, instantaneous songs and riffs, and fully realized musical numbers. The electrifying vocals of the performers – from singing to rapping to beat-boxing with harmonies and freestyle flow – are backed by tight tunes from keyboards and human percussion. The show is created live every night with the audience contributing words, ideas, and inspiration. No two shows are ever the same.
“We’ve had many of our happiest and most fulfilling creative moments working on Freestyle Love Supreme and are excited to see its next chapter unfold on this national tour,” said Thomas Kail and Lin-Manuel Miranda. “It is a show that consistently surprises us: we have no idea what to expect any time we do it - and isn’t that the true beauty of live theater? Freestyle Love Supreme wouldn’t want or have it any other way!”
FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME’s company on tour includes Allentown, Pennsylvania native Morgan Reilly AKA “Hummingbird” and Philadelphia native Anthony Veneziale AKA “Two Touch” along with Andrew Bancroft AKA “Jelly Donut;” Simone Acosta AKA “Sims”; Richard Baskin, Jr. AKA “Rich Midway;” Jay C. Ellis AKA “Jellis J;” Mark Martin AKA “Mandible”; Kaila Mullady AKA "Kaiser Rözé;” James Rushin AKA “Shifty Hills;” and Dizzy Senze AKA “Dizzy”. Special spontaneous and unannounced guests are planned for select performances during the tour.
In name and beyond, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME pays homage to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," with a nod to musical roots in jazz, soul, blues and hip-hop. FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME was originally developed and produced in 2004 by Ars Nova, in association with Jill Furman and Back House Productions. The show has played in all five boroughs and many states, as well as the U.S. Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival, and the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. Hulu premiered the documentary “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020 and the acclaimed film was nominated for a Grammy Award. Watch the 2021 Tony Award closing performance performed by FLS here. Watch Freestyle Love Supreme on NBC’s In the Wings special here.
FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME features set design by Beowulf Boritt; costume design by Lisa Zinni; lighting design by Jeff Croiter; and sound design by Nevin Steinberg. Andy Jones and James Hickey are Executive Producers. General Management provided by Baseline Theatrical.
Connect with FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREMEonline:
https://freestylelovesupreme.com/
Twitter: @FreestyleLove
Facebook: @FreestyleLoveSupreme
Instagram: @FreestyleLoveSupreme
FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME is part of the Kimmel Cultural Campus’ 2021-22 Broadway season, co-presented by The Shubert Organization. The remaining season also includes To Kill a Mockingbird and Dear Evan Hansen. For information on the full season lineup, dates, and venues, visit www.kimmelculturalcampus.org.
Deeply committed to the health and safety of guests, artists, and staff and proudly certified by GBAC, the gold standard for infection prevention programs, the Kimmel Cultural Campus is requiring masks to be worn at all times for guests attending on-Campus events, as well as proof of vaccination for those over 5. Additional details below.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more information.
FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME
Kimmel Cultural Campus’ Miller Theater
June 7 – 12, 2022
Times Vary
Safe & Clean Commitment
The Kimmel Cultural Campus is proudly certified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council – the gold standard for cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention programs.
We will always put the safety of our guests, artists, and staff first, and we have worked closely with partners, producers, artists, guests and other performing arts centers around the nation to develop the most comprehensive plan to safely reopen our doors. We are committing to a healthy and clean environment with increased disinfection, enhanced ventilation, and will enforce recommended health authority guidelines, including masks and proof of vaccination.
Masks are required to be worn at all times when on the Kimmel Cultural Campus, except when actively consuming food or beverage in designated locations. Prolonged periods of mask removal are not permitted.
All attendees for public events must show proof of full vaccination at the time of entry, with valid photo ID and copy of vaccination card (physical or photo). Children under 5 are no longer required to show a negative PCR test or negative rapid result when accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
This policy is subject to change based upon guidance from the CDC and local health authorities. For more information on our Safe & Clean Commitment and the most up-to-date information about our policies, please visit kimmelculturalcampus.org.
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THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION
The Shubert Organization is America’s oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on Broadway. For over 120 years, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals in New York City and throughout the United States. Under the leadership of Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO, Shubert currently owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Notable productions and co-productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Amadeus, Children of a Lesser God, The Grapes of Wrath, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Spamalot, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Band’s Visit, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Company, and the new musical Some Like It Hot. In addition, Shubert’s innovative ticketing solutions offer unparalleled distribution and marketing to the theatre industry and beyond. Its consumer-facing brands—Telecharge for retail ticket sales and Broadway Inbound for group sales and the travel industry—sell millions of tickets each year. The Shubert Foundation, sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts in the United States. The Foundation provides general operating support to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. Foundation grants in 2021 totaled $32.1 million. For more information, visit www.shubert.nyc.
KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, our mission is to engage the region's diverse communities with art through performance and education. Our Cultural Campus serves more than 1-million guests per year and includes Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, and SEI Innovation Studio), the Academy of Music, and the Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theater) – representing more than 160 years of rich history for the performing arts along Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. We are home to The Philadelphia Orchestra and seven esteemed Resident Companies: Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, we are the region's most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. Our Cultural Campus serves as a preeminent and inclusive place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the spirit of our region by cultivating a creative and socially responsible environment where our community shares experiences that are delivered with pride, integrity, and respect. As a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, we collaborate on, present, and produce a broad range of relevant and meaningful events, we serve as an active gathering space for social and community events, we educate the region's young people through access to quality arts experiences, and we provide support to artists in the creation of new work. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the proud Kimmel Cultural Campus Season Sponsor. Read Kimmel Cultural Campus' vision statement, world view, and mission statement here. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it encompasses our mission, co-workers, and programs here.
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For photography, please visit https://kcccpress.smugmug.com
For a PDF version of this press release, click here.