Richard Skipper Celebrates Little Girl Blue: Nina Simone Musical (08/11/2021)

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Broadway and Goodspeed alumna Laiona Michelle (Amazing Grace, The Terris Theatre) and Richard Skipper sit down to discuss her stirring bio-musical Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical, about the life and music of the legendary Nina Simone at Goodspeed by the River this August (2021). Writer/creator, Laiona Michelle will be playing the leading role of Nina Simone joined by a trio of musicians. This moving new musical begins August 4 and runs through August 29 under the tent alongside the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Goodspeed by the River is presented by Community Health Center, Inc. Inspired by Simone’s story, and the music that has come to define her, Laiona Michelle breathes life into Simone and gives her a platform from which to speak her truth in Little Girl Blue. “I fell in love with Nina Simone a very long time ago, but only really understood her importance in the world of music, and as an activist, once I began researching this project.” Ms. Michelle along with her collaborative partners on this project, have drawn from Nina’s rich life to create a portrait that is honest and powerful. Little Girl Blue had its premiere at George Street Playhouse in 2019. Ms. Michelle’s dynamic performance, filled with songs like “Feeling Good”,”Ooh Child”,”My Way” and more, will be supported by a company of three musicians, Saadi Zain on bass, Kenneth Salters on percussion and Music Supervisor/Arranger Mark Fifer on keys. Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical is an exuberant new musical with a tour de force performance by award-winning actor Laiona Michelle.