JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound To Star In Passing Strange

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 12, 2011 4:40PM

Jayson Brooks, lead singer of local soul/funk rock project JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, is no stranger to theater - Brooks was previously an actor and has been acclaimed for his performance as Coalhouse Walker in Porchlight Theatre's production of Ragtime. So it’s only fitting that he and his backup band have been cast in Bailiwick Chicago’s adaptation of Passing Strange, a Tony Award-winning rock & roll musical.

Lead singer Jayson “JC” Brooks will play the narrator/protagonist, a young, black man in the '80s who leaves his family and hometown Los Angeles to find his identity and artistic voice in Europe. The musical will also feature Billy Bungeroth, Ben Taylor, Kevin Marks, and guest multi-instrumentalist David Keller of Brooks’ backup band performing as - you guessed it - the backup band.

Passing Strange is scheduled to run from late April through late May at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. The musical will preview April 22 and 23, with preview tickets running from $10-$20 or $5 with student ID. The regular run will kick off the following Monday, April 25 and will continue through May 29 every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., with a few extra dates thrown in. Regular run tickets are priced at $25-$35 or $15 with student ID. Check out Bailiwick Chicago’s official site for more scheduling info and updates.

Passing Strange runs April 22-May 29 at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N Green, $5 - $35