GoToWhitney
Richard Allen & Taran Gray Talk Album Release of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical
Allen and Gray’s FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical tells the true story of the college age activists who boldly challenge the legality and optics of the Jim Crow Laws in 1961 by riding buses in mixed groups through the South; a soaring portrait of the fearless voices who used nonviolent direct action to initiate change. The show won the 2016 Beta Award at the New York Musical Festival. The show returned to the festival the following year and took home the award for “Outstanding Music” as well as a special honors award for “Social Impact and Relevance”. The 2017 Festival production was visited by Congressman John Lewis who said of the show, “extremely accurate. It brought tears to my eyes.”
The 18-song world premiere recording features a stunning 15 person ensemble including Brynn Williams (The SpongeBob Musical / Bye Bye Birdie / 13) playing Diane Nash, Anthony Chatmon II (Hadestown, Be More Chill) as John Lewis, Deon’te Goodman (Hamilton) as Bernard Lafayette, and Payson Lewis ("The Sing-Off," NBC) as John Siegenthaler. The rest of the superb ensemble includes Jennifer Sun Bell (Comfort Women), Kevin “Blax” Burroughs (In The Heights), Aja Downing (Legendary), Eboni Muse (Hairspray), Patrick Ortiz (West Side Story / Tarzan) , Scott Redmond (Oklahoma!), Erin Vaderhyde (Legally Blonde the Musical), and Joy Yandell (Jersey Boys).
The album is released digitally on all streaming services in partnership with Broadway Records and New York Theatre Barn Records. More information available at www.BroadwayRecords.com.
Richard Allen is a Writer/Director and Producer based in beautiful Burbank, California. Richard's credits include two feature films The Musician and Suite that he wrote and directed. He is an award winning writer of seven musicals that have played around the country including Off-Broadway. Richard sold and directed two pilots with The Walt Disney Company/ABC. He has also worked with Universal Studios, Warner Bros, and Sony. Richard is currently producing and directing Frederick, a romantic biopic centered on Frederick Douglass’ life before his escape from slavery. Richard’s newest short, The Last is an official selection at the Montreal International Film Festival.
Taran Gray grew up in the theatre community of San Diego sitting on the lap of his father, Nathan Peirson, a career theater professional. His love for theater and storytelling led him to songwriting and music production; including working for Rick Knowels (credits: Anita Baker, Lana Del Rey, Adele) and producing for independent LA artists. Taran found his way back into theatre in 2015 with the creation of FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical. He now focuses on arranging/composing for musicals and has worked with theatres such as La Jolla Playhouse and Lambs Players Theater. As a music artist, his songs implement his theatrical DNA which are blended with his deep experience of pop/rock. His latest single, “Become My Wife” was created to propose to his now fiance, Jo De La Rosa.
Socials:
Tik Tok: @allengraymusicals
Instagram: @allengraymusicals
Facebook: /allengraymusicals
Twitter: @AGmusicals
