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Ledisi Gives Voice to Fats Waller’s ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’

June 5, 2026

Grammy Award-winning singer Ledisi is currently starring in the Ebony Repertory Theatre's production of "Ain't Misbehavin'," a Tony Award-winning musical celebrating jazz legend Fats Waller, running through June 8 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. The 54-year-old artist, who has faced years of criticism and self-doubt despite her acclaimed music career, finds acting more vulnerable than singing but is gaining confidence under director Wren T. Brown's guidance.

Who is affected

  • Ledisi (Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and actor)
  • Chester Gregory, Connie Jackson, Marty Austin Lamar, and Natalie Wachen (fellow cast members)
  • Wren T. Brown (director and Ebony Repertory Theatre's founder/producing artistic director)
  • Ebony Repertory Theatre (Los Angeles' only African American professional theater company)
  • Audiences attending the production at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center
  • The broader Black arts community and theater-goers interested in Harlem Renaissance history

What action is being taken

  • Ledisi is performing in "Ain't Misbehavin'" at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center through June 8
  • The Ebony Repertory Theatre is presenting the production
  • Wren T. Brown is directing the show
  • The cast is performing nightly tributes to Fats Waller's music and the Harlem Renaissance

Why it matters

  • This production matters because it preserves and celebrates the legacy of Fats Waller and the Harlem Renaissance, a critical period of Black artistic and cultural achievement that continues to influence contemporary culture. The show provides representation through the Ebony Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles' only African American professional theater company, which centers Black stories and artists. For Ledisi personally, the role represents a significant milestone in her journey toward self-acceptance and artistic expansion beyond music, demonstrating her versatility as a performer. The production also serves an educational function, introducing audiences to Waller's influential contributions to jazz and American swing music while showcasing how music served as a voice for Black artists during a time when society limited their speech.

What's next

  • Ledisi will return to Broadway this fall, starring as Tallulah Clarke in the new musical "Wanted" at the James Earl Jones Theatre
  • The production will begin previews on October 15
  • The show will officially open on November 8

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint