AUDITIONS ARE OPEN FOR MUSICAL BASED ON THE LIFE OF BOB MARLEY!

By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston–

Auditions on for Marley musical–

AUDITIONS are now open for a musical based on the life of reggae legend Bob Marley in New York.

Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the musical will look at the impact Marley had on Jamaica and the world. More a dozen roles are up for grabs in this musical scheduled for May 13 to June 14 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Victoria Harper, who auditioned for the role of Cindy Breakespeare at New York Cityâs Theatre District, said she armed herself by watching documentaries on the Miss World 1976, who spoke openly about her relationship with the reggae singer.

“Growing up in Jamaica, being a huge Bob Marley fan and been crowned a Miss Jamaica USA and a Miss Jamaica Miami would naturally lend itself to the ‘Miss World’ portrayal,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Breakspeare is mother of Grammy-winning artiste Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley.

Cindy Breakspeare & Bob Marley

Harper said she performed a Marley classic for the audition.

“I performed No Woman, No Cry based on some personal challenging issues I had been experiencing at the time and drew on those emotions to make the song real to me and the audience. I must say, I was actually encouraged whilst rehearsing the song, especially when you get to the verse where it says: ‘Everything’s gonna be all rightâ'” she said.

In addition to Marley and Breakspeare, auditions are opened for parts of Rita Marley, Marley’s manager Don Taylor, Neville Garrick, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Michael Manley in his 50s, and well-known political activists Milton ‘Tony’ Welsh and Claudius Massop.

The next audition is scheduled for November 13.

Marley, Jamaica’s first musical superstar, died in May 1981. He was 36.