Ascension of the Blues is back! Starring Alvon Johnson, Larry Batiste, James Brooks, Mz. Dee, Sakai, Sounds of Rhythm, Jimmy Dillon & Ozzie Ahlers' Band and the Ascension Horns and Samuka, Nathan Dias and Kelli Hill.
“The blues had a baby and they called it rock ‘n’ roll.” Muddy Waters knew better than anyone that, woven into the fabric of American music and culture, the blues gave rise to gospel, jazz and folk, and ultimately collided with R&B, soul, hip hop, rap and rock ‘n’ roll.
Ascension of the Blues is an exciting new musical theatre experience that tells the tale of America's greatest contribution to the music scene. Featuring over 30 songs that will rattle your bones, heart palpitatin' dance numbers and captivating storytelling, Ascension highlights the blues as it’s never been done before. From the plantation fields of the south, where the blues was born, to the glittering arenas of modern rock and roll, Ascension showcases a multi-talented cast of singers, dancers and musicians —accompanied by one of the hottest bands musical theatre-goers will ever hear.
In 1999, Jimmy Dillon sat down to write a musical telling the story of the evolution of American music—the result was Ascension of the Blues. On a sweltering summer night in July 2000, the first performance of the show was presented on the altar of an old abandoned Baptist church in South Haven, Michigan. Ascension went on to play theaters in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo—developing and fine-tuning both classic and original songs along the way. In 2008, the show played to capacity audiences and received standing ovations. Bay Area music critic Paul Liberatore declared, “Ascension is a heart-stopping show that vibrated the sidewalk and made the sun come out on a rainy day.”
