FAU's' Theatre Lab Presents Miami Native Wilkie Ferguson's Musical Revue 'Uptown Swing'

Theatre Lab, the professional resident company of Florida Atlantic University, presents Wilkie Ferguson's "Uptown Swing" on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m., in Parliament Hall, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.  Tickets are $20 can be purchased at www.fauevents.com, by calling 561-297-6124, or at the Box Office in FAU's Student Union. Tickets also are available at the door upon availability and all student tickets are $5 at the door.  

Contemporary blends with classic in this "swinging" musical revue. Join six young people in search of love for a sensational evening in a 1930s New York nightclub.  Composer, Broadway star and Miami native Wilkie Ferguson III takes popular songs from the 1980s like "Open Your Heart," "Take On Me," and "Faith" and transforms them into Prohibition Era big-band style tunes, providing the unique musical backdrop for the show.

Ferguson was born and raised in Miami, attending Norland Middle School and New World School of the Arts High School. After graduation, Ferguson went on to study mathematics at Morehouse College and later, classical piano performance at Eastman School of Music. He made his theatrical debut in "Ain't Misbehavin" in New York while employed on the faculty of the Boy's Choir of Harlem as assistant director, piano accompanist and music theory instructor.  In addition to being a classical pianist, Ferguson is also a professional singer, dancer and actor.  He has performed on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," "Motown the Musical," and "Wonderland." He has toured the country and Japan with "In the Heights,"  "Hairspray," and "Dreamgirls."

Theatre Lab was established on FAU's Boca campus in September 2015. Louis Tyrrell, founding artistic director of Florida Stage and the Theatre at Arts Garage, is the artistic director and Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Arts for this new initiative. The first season is generously supported by Edith and Martin Stein, and Marta and Jim Batmasian are "season producers."

Patrons are encouraged to come early to enjoy beer, wine, drinks and snacks available for purchase, and explore the gallery exhibition space that houses the lobby for Theatre Lab. For a full schedule and more information about the Theatre Lab at FAU, call 561-297-4784, email theatrelab@fau.edu or visit www.fau.edu/theatrelab.