Regional Tryout | Arena Stage, Washington, DC | Opened at Kreeger Theater on February 13, 2026 (Investment)

Creative Team

This electrifying production features a heavily revised, deeply psychological new book by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King, The Last Five Years), adapting the original short stories by John O'Hara to center on the Black jazz scene of 1940s Chicago. The show is co-directed by actor/director Tony Goldwyn and legendary Tony-winning tap icon Savion Glover, who also serves as the production's "orchestrologist," completely dismantling the classic Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart score into syncopated, rhythm-driven jazz arrangements.

Synopsis

Set against the heat and hustle of a down-at-the-heels Chicago club named Lucille’s, the musical follows Joey Evans, a slick-talking, velvet-voiced songster and hoofer with dreams bigger than the bandstand. Desperate to run his own luxury club ("Chez Joey"), Joey's blind ambition leads him into a complex web of romance and transaction. He finds himself caught between Linda English, a bright-eyed, principled chorus girl who challenges him, and Baroness Vera Simpson, a wealthy, commanding widow who can bankroll his big break—for a price. Through tap, swing, and blues, the musical explores what it costs a Black artist to chase stardom in a world stacked against him.

Production History

Chez Joey had its high-profile world premiere at Arena Stage’s Kreeger Theater in Washington, D.C., opening on February 13, 2026. Originally scheduled for a limited run, massive critical acclaim and box office demand pushed an official extension through March 22, 2026. The production serves as a high-stakes pre-Broadway tryout, with the creative team actively aiming to transfer the staging to New York.

Cast Highlights

The world-premiere company boasted an elite lineup of Tony-winning star power and musical theater veterans:

• Joey Evans: Tony Award winner Myles Frost (MJ The Musical) commanded the title role, delivering a magnetic, polished performance that fused his brilliant physical agility with smooth, rebellious jazz vocals on tracks like "I Didn't Know What Time It Was."

• Linda English:Awa Sal Secka (Goddess) earned immense praise as a fierce, emotionally complex Linda, delivering a heartbreaking, stripped-down rendition of "My Funny Valentine."

• Vera Simpson:Samantha Massell (Fiddler on the Roof) brought sharp intelligence and sophisticated vocal power to the wealthy baroness.

• The Supporting Stars: The principal cast was anchored by Angela Hall as the no-nonsense club owner Lucille Wallace and Tony nominee Kevin Cahoon (Shucked) as the social insider Melvin.