Playbill: Black No More Musical, Starring Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter, Lillias White, Brandon Victor Dixon, Begins Previews January 20

The New Group's world premiere of Black No More—the new musical inspired by George S. Schuyler’s 1931 Afrofuturist novel of the same name set during the Harlem Renaissance—begins previews January 20, one week later than previously announced due to COVID-19. Opening night is now February 15.

The musical, originally announced for fall 2020, tells the story of Max Disher (Dixon), who’s eager to try the mysterious machine invented by Dr. Junius Crookman (Trotter) that guarantees to “solve the American race problem" — by turning Black people white.

Black No More features lyrics by Trotter; music by Trotter, Anthony Tidd, James Poyser, and Tony winner Daryl Waters; and a book by John Ridley, as well as music supervision, orchestrations, and vocal arrangements by Waters. The staging also has music direction and dance arrangements by Zane Mark, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, wig and hair design by Nikiya Mathis, and casting by The Telsey Office's Rebecca Scholl and Kristian Charbonier.