A HIP-HOP MUSICAL ABOUT PETER SPENCER
Big Quarterly ignites the stage with hip-hop, gospel, and dance, revealing the untold story of Peter Spencer. Once enslaved, he rose to found the nation’s first Black church and the Big Quarterly freedom festival, a haven for the Underground Railroad. Against all odds, facing outer powers and inner demons, Spencer changed American history. Big Quarterly brings his revolution to life.
12 Actors / 1 Act / 1:30 Run time
MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM
Book, Music & Lyrics by S. Todd Townsend, Luke McLemore, & Kim Kilby
WRITERS
The Book, Music & Lyrics for Big Quarterly were collaboratively written by the multicultural writing team of S. Todd Townsend (he/him), Luke McLemore (he/him), and Kim Kilby (she/her) who all hold a MA in Musical Theater Writing and Design from BerkleeNYC. Todd has traveled and performed extensively as poet, hip hop lyricist, public speaker, song writer, actor, author and playwright. Luke is a jazz pianist and hip-hop producer who has been writing musicals since he was a teen. Kim is a composer, librettist and playwright who has performed on Atlanta stages (Alliance Theater, Fox Theater).
DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Jōvan Dansberry (he/him) is a New York–based director, choreographer, and performer working across theatre, television, and live performance. His work centers on dance as a driving force in storytelling—blending movement, music, and design to create dynamic, emotionally resonant experiences. Credits include Let the Good Times Roll (Phoenix Theatre Company, Assoc. Director), The Little Mermaid (Paper Mill Playhouse, Assoc. Director), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Goodman Theatre, Assoc. Choreographer), The Preacher’s Wife (Alliance Theatre, Assoc. Choreographer), and Porgy and Bess (The Metropolitan Opera, Assistant Choreographer).
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Rashad McPherson (he/him) studied music formally as a piano principle and Music Business major at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA). Since graduating Berklee College, he has spent years producing music and other liturgical content for worship; expertly coaching volunteer as well as professional vocalists; and honing skills for music and vocal arrangement in the contexts of live music and studio music production. Rashad’s trademark musical aesthetic draws heavily from the sounds of the Black Church, protest music of the Black Freedom Movement (also known as the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement), Classic R&B, Soul, and Vocal Jazz. For the last two years Rashad has served as music director for Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth in Times Square featuring Black Broadway talent that is a celebration of Black culture and resilience.