A Portrait of Ray
A Portrait of Ray takes audiences on an exhilarating journey back to 1967 at the height of Ray Charles' career. Set during a homecoming concert in Greenville, Florida, this “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Soul” pioneer freely shares his life’s journey.
From becoming blind at the age of 7, to witnessing the deaths of both his brother and mother by the age of 15--Ray had no shortage of tragedies in his life. But through his resilience and his extraordinary talent, Ray found his voice and used it as an instrument for social change.
Ray’s unique sound fusing Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Country and the Blues, was successful in the integration of American Music, but also had a significant impact on the integration of American people.
Dwayne Clark portrays this complicated yet charismatic entertainer all the while guiding his infamous background singers, the Raelettes, and a ten piece jazz orchestra through a mélange of melodies. Featuring world class saxophonist Don Braden as ‘Fat Head Newman,’ A Portrait of Ray includes favorites such as ‘Hit the Road Jack.’ ‘Georgia,’ ‘What'd I Say,’ ‘ I Can't Stop Loving You’ and many more.
When director Janeece Freeman-Clark first heard her husband Dwayne Clark impersonate Ray Charles, she knew she was witnessing something special. Inspired by the life of Charles and his famous discography, the husband-wife duo set to work on writing a new production. The result is "A Portrait of Ray," a 90-minute one-act production starring Broadway actor Dwayne Clark that has been at Newark Symphony Space, Symphony Space in NYC, and other theater venues.
The production features Clark and a 10-piece orchestra. In between musical numbers, “Ray” performs a series of monologues that paint a complete portrait of the man, including his complications. In addition to being a musical genius, Charles was known for being a womanizer and drug addict. And this production does not shy away from those facts.
“Dwayne Clark is a limber Tenor with athleticism and grace comparable to the likes of a Cab Calloway, a Sammy Davis Jr., and now Ray Charles can be added to that list.” The New York Times
“Dwayne Clark single handily brings the audience to its feet with one show stopping, handclapping moment after another. Drown in my own tears left us standing, clapping, sobbing and wanting more."
MEDIA
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