Long before “FELA!” thrilled Broadway with its Afrobeat rhythms and choreography by Bill T. Jones, Adesola Osakalumi learned about Fela Kuti through his family’s ownership of the Nigerian musician’s record label. The story of the civil rights champion’s defiance of a corrupt military government walked away with three Tony Awards. Now the national tour debuts at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall starring Osakalumi and Sahr Ngaujah alternating the role they played on Broadway.
“Every time I go on stage, Fela’s struggle and continual push for justice in the face of odds and great personal danger resonate with me,” Osakalumi said. “I became involved in the show when it moved from off Broadway to Broadway. I’d been working in ‘Equus’ with Daniel Radcliffe; it closed just as auditions took place for the Broadway production.
| ONSTAGE |
| ‘FELA!’ |
| » Where: Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall |
| » When: Through Sunday |
| » Info: $35 to $125; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org. |
“The lead is on stage for all but five minutes of the show, so alternating with Sahr allows us to rest from the physical demands. Bill T. Jones is a pusher who forces you to explore all areas of your skills. He tweaks the show constantly and believes that art is not fixed but is constantly evolving.”
Osakalumi, an award-winning dancer and choreographer, grew up in a family devoted to dance. His mother was a principal dancer with Africa I Dance Theater, a family business, and they all wanted him to become a traditional drum and dance artist. While studying with the Dance Theater of Harlem on a scholarship, he admired the regimen and discipline of ballet. Then he discovered hip-hop.
Once he perfected hip-hop moves, he studied acting and began auditioning, taking the advice of his grandmother, “A closed mouth never gets fed.” Understudying Radcliffe in “Equus” was the turning point in the career that today finds him multitasking as principal dancer, actor, teacher and choreographer of TV, film and stage productions.
Osakalumi is excited about the support “FELA!” receives from the black American community and the interest young children have in learning how to dance like he does. After each performance, they pepper him with questions about the hero whose life story is new to them.
Laughing, he said, “The first question they ask is about his 27 wives. They also want to know about the form-fitting suits I wear. This show has something for everybody: music, dance, vocals and my great co-stars. All ages are moved by Fela’s journey and struggles for truth.”
