Just in time for Juneteenth, the award-winning musical 'Lenox Ave' is back on an Orlando stage, but this time with a fresh perspective and a new staging that promises to captivate audiences like never before. This production, produced by Orlando's Renaissance Theatre Co., is not just a revisit of the Harlem Renaissance, but a celebration of Black culture and the profound impact it has had on American society. The musical, written and composed by Brandon Martin, tells the story of Langston Hughes, a guiding light of the Harlem Renaissance, through the lens of his poetry and the vibrant sounds of jazz, calypso, rock, and blues.
What makes this production particularly fascinating is the way it connects the past and present. The Harlem Renaissance, a Black arts explosion in early 20th-century New York, was a time of great cultural and social change. It was spurred in part by the Great Migration, where African Americans moved to the North and Midwest in large numbers for work and opportunity far away from the oppression of Jim Crow laws in the South. New York City's Harlem neighborhood became a melting pot of African Americans from all different parts of the country, determined to forge a new way. The Renaissance pioneered bold new directions for poetry and prose, dance and jazz, with these art forms coming together to chronicle and celebrate what it means to be Black in America.
In my opinion, the musical Lenox Ave does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. The innovative staging, with a cabaret cocktail-style set and immersive interplay beyond the stage, creates a feeling of intimacy between theatergoers and the actors. The costuming, with sequined flapper dresses, suspenders, and shoe buckles, references the styles of the 1920s, adding to the authenticity of the production. The music, which blends jazz, hip-hop, rock, blues, and calypso, is absolutely brilliant. It's beautifully written, and the way that Martin has matched styles of poetry is an art all its own.
One thing that immediately stands out is the way the musical connects with audiences on multiple levels. Whether it's the music, the choreography by Adonus Mabry, or the still-resonant words of Hughes, the production has something for everyone. The changes to the music and sets in this new staging give audiences the opportunity to see the award-winning musical like never before, with the potential for new songs and performances debuting at this weekend's Judson's Live performances.
What many people don't realize is the profound impact the Harlem Renaissance had on popular music. Jazz, which was not considered high art back in the early 1900s, laid the essential foundations for popular music through to the present day. Popular music has its origins in jazz standards that were created for stage shows on Broadway, and all of that has its roots or is inspired in some way by what was created in the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz birthed Latin jazz, calypso, and even early hip-hop, which has a lot of jazz influences and uses jazz samples.
If you take a step back and think about it, the Harlem Renaissance was a time of great cultural and social change. It was a time when African Americans were determined to forge a new way, and their art and music reflected that determination. The musical Lenox Ave captures that spirit, and it's a testament to the power of art and music to connect people across time and space. In my opinion, this production is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of Black culture and the profound impact it has had on American society.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the way the musical connects the past and present. The Harlem Renaissance was a time of great cultural and social change, and the musical Lenox Ave captures that spirit. The production is a celebration of Black culture and the richness and depth of Blackness, of being Black in America, the joy of it, and the depth that comes from the history. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of art and music in connecting people across time and space, and it's a testament to the enduring power of the Harlem Renaissance.
