Widespread is gearing as much as turn into a part of the choose group of rappers who’ve graced the levels of Broadway.
With preview performances starting in New York Metropolis on Nov. 30 at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater and an official opening night time set for Dec. 19, Widespread joins the solid of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play, Between Riverside and Loopy. The Chicago rapper will tackle the supporting function of Junior, the son of the play’s lead character, Walter “Pops” Washington, a widowed ex-cop struggling to make ends meet performed by award-winning Fences actor Stephen McKinley Henderson. Widespread graciously introduced his upcoming function in Between Riverside and Loopy on social media again in September with a publish that is a transparent indicator of the passionate efficiency the “Come Shut” artist intends to ship in his function as Junior.
“This has been a dream of mine for a really very long time,” wrote Widespread in an Instagram publish asserting his onstage debut on Sept. 16. “I’m supremely grateful and overwhelmingly impressed to be part of Between Riverside and Loopy. I can’t wait to start this course of and to dwell this journey.”
From there, the Chi-City native elaborated on the sense of delight and inventive achievement his new Broadway enterprise is bringing his manner.
“You by no means might have advised me that little south facet boy that he could be on Broadway,” continued the One Day It will All Make Sense MC. “Once I obtained this function, I referred to as my mom like I had gotten my first report contract. Haha. It was that a lot pleasure. I’ve been advised how exhausting the work is and that there’s nothing prefer it. That is what I need as an artist and as a being that believes artwork can heal and encourage. I need to be part of the theater neighborhood to precise that gentle and love. I thank God for this opening of doorways and this blessing. So [please] come try our play, y’all. Thanks [Second Stage Theater] for the chance. Love.”
Surrounded by a strong solid that’s principally made up of the identical actors who had been featured within the authentic Off-Broadway rendition of Between Riverside and Loopy, Widespread’s function as Junior sees the legendary rhymer’s character as a latest parolee who lately returned to his father’s residence following the loss of life of his mom. Alongside together with his girlfriend, Lulu, and his recovering addict buddy, Oswaldo, Junior and his father, Walter “Pops” Washington navigate their new lives by way of a comedic tackle what it is like dwelling in a small rent-controlled house in New York Metropolis.
The John Wick: Chapter 2 actor’s upcoming Broadway efficiency locations Widespread in line to doubtlessly turn into the primary rapper to ever earn the coveted EGOT, a prestigious honor outlined by a single performer who’s been awarded the mix of an Emmy Award for tv, a Grammy Award for the music trade, an Oscar from the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences and a Tony Award for excellence in dwell Broadway theater.
The aforementioned Tony award could be the ultimate piece wanted to finish Widespread’s EGOT puzzle, as he has beforehand been introduced with three Grammy Awards, one Academy Award and one Emmy Award.
The Chicago spitter’s Grammy wins embrace Finest R&B tune for his 2002 visitor look on Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop),” Finest Rap Efficiency by a Duo or Group for 2007’s Kanye West-assisted “Southside” and Finest Music Written for Visible Media for 2014’s “Glory” that includes John Legend, who additionally occurs to be the primary Black man to attain an EGOT.
Within the realms of movie and tv, the Be artist was acknowledged for his musical contributions to the 2014 movie, Selma, and 2016’s Netflix documentary, thirteenth. Widespread and John Legend every earned an Academy Award for Finest Orginal Music with Selma‘s “Glory” whereas on the solo tip, Com snatched an Emmy Award for Excellent Unique Music and Lyrics for “Letter to the Free,” which was featured on the soundtrack for thirteenth.
