Adrienne Warren To Star As Delilah In 'Imitation Of Life' Musical — SkimNews
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- Adrienne Warren will star as Delilah in the Off Broadway world premiere musical adaptation of Fannie Hurst's 'Imitation of Life,' taking the role previously played by Louise Beavers in the 1934 film and Juanita Moore in the 1959 remake.
- Lynn Nottage (two-time Pulitzer winner) wrote the book, John Legend (EGOT winner) composed the original score — his first musical — and double Tony nominee Whitney White directs, replacing Liesl Tommy, who remains a producer.
- The six-week limited engagement begins previews November 21 at The Griffin Theater at The Shed, with opening night December 3 and a run through January 3, 2027.
- Adapted from Hurst's 1933 novel set in the 1920s and '30s, the musical follows two single mothers — one Black, one white — and their daughters, centering on Delilah's daughter attempting to 'pass' as white and addressing race, identity, motherhood, ambition, and belonging.
- Warren, a Tony winner for 'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,' said developing the role of Delilah 'has become a highlight of my career' and called Legend's score the first musical he has composed.
- The production is a co-presentation of The Shed and National Black Theatre, with producers including Universal Theatrical Group, Get Lifted Film Co., Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Crocodile Eyes, and LD Entertainment.
Why it matters: The casting pairs one of Broadway's most acclaimed contemporary performers with a Pulitzer-winning playwright and an EGOT winner composing his first full musical, giving Hurst's 1933 novel — and its themes of racial passing — a rare major stage treatment. The Shed co-production with National Black Theatre signals institutional weight behind a six-week world premiere that functions as a high-profile launch rather than a commercial tryout.
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