'American Idol' alums fill cast on 'Ain't Misbehavin'' tour

CHAMPAIGN – The 30th anniversary national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical "Ain't Misbehavin'," starring "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Assembly Hall Star Theatre in the University of Illinois Assembly Hall.

"Ain't Misbehavin'" is a musical revue with book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby Jr., music by Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller, orchestrations and additional music by Luther Henderson, and lyrics by various writers. Fats Waller, the comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem, lives on in this show, still considered one of Broadway's best-crafted revues.

Dubbed "The Velvet Teddy Bear" by legendary R&B singer Gladys Knight, Studdard shot to fame in 2003 after winning the TV talent competition show "American Idol." The Grammy-nominated star will be joined on stage by two other "Idol" alumni: Frenchie Davis, a 2003 contestant and star of Broadway's "Rent," and Trenyce Cobbins, one of the top five finalists.

The musical features numbers such as "Honeysuckle Rose," "This Joint is Jumpin'," "Your Feet's Too Big," and the title song "Ain't Misbehavin.'"

"Ain't Misbehavin'" originally opened in February 1978 in the Manhattan Theatre Club's East 73rd Street Cabaret with featured singer Irene Cara. The show was an instant hit among theatergoers, and was quickly developed into a full-scale Broadway production. After 14 previews, the production opened on May 9, 1978, at the Longacre Theatre, later moving to the Plymouth Theatre and then to the Belasco Theatre before finally completing its 1,604-performance run.

The show launched the career of the late Nell Carter and won the 1978 Tony awards for best musical and best performance by a featured actress for Carter. In 1988, "Ain't Misbehavin'" was revived on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre, with Carter as an above-the-title star. The original Broadway cast recording was released by RCA Victor, and is still available in stores nationwide.

The 30th anniversary tour of "Ain't Misbehavin'" is executive produced by Daniel Sher of Big League Productions.

Tickets are $32, $39 and $45, with an $8 discount for UI students and $2 discount for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are on sale at the Assembly Hall box office, Ticketmaster outlets including Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 333-5000.

The musical is being presented by arrangement with Assembly Hall Star Theatre and is a subscription offering of the 2008-09 News-Gazette Broadway series. For information, visit the Web site at www.aintmisbehavinontour.com/.

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