Nefertiti continues to evolve and inspire. The musical, which originally opened on September 20, 1977 at Chicago’s Blackstone Theater for a pre-Broadway run of 44 performances, has brought audiences to their feet in a series of recent productions.
This lushly melodic musical thrives today for several reasons. First, the story--a romantic love triangle between three young idealists who change their world--continues to excite audiences who want to look beyond the cynicism of our age.
Secondly, the vibrant score which, due to an original cast album featuring Andrea Marcovicci and Michael Nouri, developed a cult following that persists today.
There is also a determined effort by the creative team, following the death from AIDS of the show’s lyricist and book writer, Christopher Gore in 1988, to re-envision the work.
Finally, the enthusiasm of theater companies whose artistic directors treasured the original production, has kept the musical growing.
The first revival came in 1989 in a staged reading at the York Theater Company in New York City. That was followed by an independent production, starring Terry Burrell and AJ Vincent, at the Tennessee Williams Performing Arts Center in Key West.
After a hiatus during the 1990s, Nefertiti began gathering new steam in the spring of 2004 when Dante Orfei of the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in suburban Chicago mounted a full production, extending its run due to its strong reception.
The Jedlicka success led to a lavish production at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale in May 2005. This production starred Broadway performers Nicole Leach, Nicholas Rodriguez, Alan H. Green, and Ann Crumb.
Audience response to the Florida production and the recording of a new cast album helped drive a workshop directed by Kevin Moore at the Human Race Theater Company in Dayton, Ohio. Critics called this production one of the most powerful and well-received workshops the company had ever produced.
In October of 2007 the Deeply Rooted Dance Company of Chicago brought the brilliant choreography and the Afro-centric perspective of Kevin Iega Jeff and Gary Abbott to the musical, as well as the inspirational influence of Chicago’s gospel singing community. The Deeply Rooted production, the first to cast the show almost completely with an African-American cast, generated vociferous audience response. Since the Deeply Rooted production the musical continues to evolve, each production having added valuable insights.