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Turn Me Loose

First Preview: Apr 16, 2016
Opening Date: May 3, 2016
Closing Date: Jul 17, 2016
Running Time: 01:30
Turn Me Loose

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Playing @
Westside Theatre Downstairs
407 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
John Legend and Mike Jackson present a new comedic drama about the extraordinary and explosive life of Dick Gregory - starring Scandal's Joe Morton - that shines a light on the first Black comedian to expose white audiences to racial comedy.

Turn Me Loose is a new comedic drama about the extraordinary and explosive life and career of Dick Gregory, the first Black comedian to expose white audiences to comedy confronting racial issues.


The play tracks the course of Mr. Gregory's extraordinary personal and professional history, how he forced himself onto the stage at The Playboy Club to discover an audience of southern, white, frozen-food conventioneers, transformed racist heckling to howling laughter and initiated an unprecedented comedy career. Turn Me Loose then reveals Gregory’s struggle between his newfound celebrity and his burgeoning yearning to join the activism of the Civil Rights Movement; how his commitment to equality nearly forced him to reject the greatest television opportunity of his career and his inner struggles facing the demons of his philandering, never-present father and the haunting echos of his mentor, slain civil-rights activist Medgar Evers. The scenes alternate between his early career in the ‘60s and the present day, revealing a life-long, unwavering dedication to the struggle for human dignity and civil rights.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
TUESDAY thru THURSDAY @ 7:30 PM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY @ 8 PM
WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY @ 2 PM
SUNDAY @ 3 PM
Off BroadwayPlay - ComedyPerformance ArtPlay - Drama
Show Notes: No Intermission
Age Guidance: 16
Audience Advisory: Strong language

TDF Tickets Offers:

TDF Member tickets:

Not currently available for this show

Listed at

Never

Full-price tickets:

$79.00 - $79.00

Video

Accessibility

  • Box Office

    1st floor. Counter 45".Box office has a wheelchair accessible drawer for distributing tickets
  • Parking

    Garage: 42nd Street between 9th & 10th Aves. No vans. MPG Parking, 475 W. 41st - 200 ft. away,
  • Curb Ramps

    Ramp is available at 43rd St. & 9th Ave
  • Passenger Loading Zone

    Front. Curb 2.5"
  • Restroom

    Located down one flight of stairs: 14 steps.A wheelchair-accessible (unisex) restroom is located on the lobby level
  • Seating

    Seats 249
  • Elevator/Escalator

    Only the right rear section of the Downstairs Theatre is accessible via a wheelchair lift from the lobby level. The dimensions of the lift are 36? wide x 48? long. Entrance to the lift from the lobby level is through a 33? wide door on the 48? side of the lift. Only patrons using wheelchairs or scooters may use the lift. The maximum length for scooters and wheelchairs able to maneuver onto the lift is approximately 44?.
  • Telephone

    None
  • Entrance

    A few stone steps to enter the building from the sidewalk.Ramp is available. There is a wheelchair accessible button that opens the doors to the theatre. There are also four steps to enter the theatre, and an elevator is available for that as well.
  • Visual Assistance

    None.
  • Water Fountain

    Concessions are on 2nd floor.
  • Assisted Listening System

    Theatre is equipped with Senheiser Infrared System. Headsets are available free of charge on a first come-first served basis from the ticket taker. A driver’s license or ID with printed address is required as a deposit. The devices do not operate in rows A, B, and C. If patrons anticipate using the assistive listening system, they should request tickets in row D or behind.
  • Wheelchair Info

    Wheelchair seating is available but must be arranged at least 72 hours before any performance and are subject to availability.

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