This week, “Amazing Grace,” a musical in the grand tradition of “Les Miserables” and “The King and I,” is opening at the Nederlander Theater on Broadway. The show has received accolades on the road both in summer stock and in Chicago. It is the story of John Newton, a successful slave trader, who realized the horror of what he was doing and underwent an incredible conversion to being a powerful abolitionist and the creator of “Amazing Grace.” Although it is a story that takes place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it is a story that has special resonance in today’s America.
“Amazing Grace” is based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song. A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change that gave birth to the abolitionist movement.
The 31-member cast stars the golden-voiced Tony nominee Josh Young and the lovely Erin Mackey. Its attraction is to a broad-based audience, and its Broadway success is bound to endure.