(City Theater)
City Theatre’s Summer Shorts festival returned to the Adrienne Arts Center for the Performing Arts June 2 for its 25th anniversary season – which features 10 short plays and musicals by award-winning playwrights and a versatile ensemble cast of eight actors – for a hilarious and thought-provoking evening.
Apart from the Summer Shorts production, but included in the festival, is “Three Little Birds,” a stand-alone, one-hour musical with its own unique cast, featuring hits from reggae music icon Bob Marley.
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Bob Marley
Biscayne Times recently caught up with Cedella Marley, one of the late musician’s daughters, who talked to us about the musical’s origins. Based on her children’s book, “Every Little Thing,” the show will open June 22 and run through July 9 at the Arsht.
“‘Three Little Birds’ is that happy singalong song everyone knows. I have seen 2-year-olds sing it and 200-year-olds sing it,” she said. “It’s a song of hope and love. It’s important for us to share that message.”
That’s her intention and that of everyone else behind the theatrical production, which is informed by the classic Marley song with the famous lyric, “cause every little thing gonna’ be alright.”
“That’s one thing I’ve always tried to do with Daddy’s music – bring it to a generation that never got to meet him or know his music,” said his daughter.
The show follows the character of Ziggy Marley, one of Bob Marley’s sons, as he faces his fears against tropical storms, evil spirits and the hair-snatching “duppy,” the Jamaican word for ghost. With the help of Doctor Bird and his feathered friends, Ziggy is reminded that “every little thing gonna’ be all right.”
This family-focused musical tells the story of facing your fears through the elder Marley’s music and lyrics. The book was adapted to the stage by Michale J. Bobbitt; the musical is directed by Gladys Ramirez.
(Chronicle Books)
We met Ramirez and others at a reception held for the cast, crew and their supporters at Overtown’s Dunns Josephine Hotel in anticipation of the musical’s upcoming arrival in Miami.
“I want people to feel joy. I want them to forget everything and be in the world of ‘Three Little Birds’ for 60 minutes. This play delivers the message of peace, love, hope and togetherness,” said Ramirez. “After the pandemic, I think we need to hear that message.”
She went on to explain that it was a priority for the cast to reflect Jamaican culture, emphasizing how the Marleys have a special connection to South Florida’s Jamaican community. It took three rounds of auditions to cast TJ Pursley as Ziggy Marley, Malik Archibald as Doctor Bird and Toddra Brunson as Cedella Marley.
“I was so happy and honored they saw something in me to play the role,” said Brunson. “It was a string of auditions. They took actors and actresses and paired them up to see which Ziggy goes with Cedella. We received the lyrics to study. Jamie (Hinckson) played the score. We left to rehearse it and came back to perform for the audition.”
(City Theatre)
The Summer Shorts 25 cast includes Alex Alvarez, Lindsey Corey, Jovon Jacobs, Margot Moreland, Daniel Llaca, Diana Garle, Tom Wahl and Stephon Duncan (L-R).
The music in “Three Little Birds” is another part of the production that needs to be perfect. A live reggae band will perform the score.
“You are going to hear the authentic drum and bass from Jamaican musicians. You’re going to hear rhythm sections from keyboards and guitars that feel authentic to Jamaica,” said musical director Jamie Hinckson.
Hinkson is a musician with more than 25 years of experience, having performed with artists such as The Wailers, The Wailing Souls and others. Currently, he is the keyboard player and musical director for a band led by another Marley son, Julian.
“I am happy I am giving live instrumentation to bring the play to life. I’ve watched how they did ‘Three Little Birds’ in the past and it (didn’t) do it justice. The band and I will be setting a new standard for how this play is supposed to be,” said Hinckson.
Everyone behind “Three Little Birds” is putting their best foot forward to produce an amazing family show.
“You should come out to see ‘Three Little Birds’ because it’s something you haven’t seen before,” said Brunson. “You are going to want to watch it over and over again.”
Other shows featured in this year’s Summer Shorts are written by authors such as Pulitzer Prize winners Lin-Manuel Miranda and David Lindsay-Abaire, and include all-new short comedies, dramas and mini-musicals, as well as fresh revivals of past favorites.
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Cedella Marley, a daughter of Bob Marley and the author of “Every Little Thing,” the children’s book that inspired the musical “Three Little Birds,” at the Dunns Josephine Hotel in Overtown.
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Jamie Hinckson performing Bob Marley melodies on the piano at the “Three Little Birds” reception at Overtown’s Dunns Josephine Hotel.
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Gladys Ramirez, director of “Three Little Birds,” and music director Jamie Hinckson (L-R) at the Dunns Josephine Hotel.
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Gladys Ramirez, Director of “Three Little Birds” and Susan Westfall, Literary Director of City Theater Miami, at the Three Little Birds reception at Dunns Josephine Hotel in Overtown.
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(City Theater)
Summer Shorts 25 Cast (from left) Alex Alvarez, Lindsey Corey, Jovon Jacobs, Margot Moreland, Daniel Llaca, Diana Garle, Tom Wahl and Stephon Duncan