About GRACE

Take one family.

Add a dash of hope, a sprinkle of spice, and a heaping handful of love, and you’ve got a recipe for pure musical joy.

Like sitting down to a heaping plate of jambalaya and finishing it with a slice of pecan pie, GRACE is the rich musical feast seasoned with the vibrant traditions of African-America history.

After their beloved "Gran'Me" passes away, the Mintons reunite at their cherished family restaurant, Minton’s Place – home to a century of classic African-America dishes. As with any family gathering, joy abounds, souls are bared, secrets revealed, and drama ensues. But in the end, with a little grace, the Mintons bond to preserve and savor a lasting legacy.

See what these critics are saying about GRACE

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

David Friscic, BroadwayWorld

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"...a knockout of a musical"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

Andre Hereford, MetroWeekly

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"...unstoppably entertaining"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

Gregory Ford, D.C. Metro Theatre Arts

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"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

Jordan Wright, Whisk and Quill

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"...a delectable delight"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

Gail Choochan, The Free Lance-Star

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"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

Brenda Siler, The Washington Informer

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Our GRACE Production Team

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Writer / Composer

More about Nolan

Nikkole Salter

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Co-Book Writer

More about Nikkole

Robert Barry Fleming

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Director / Choreographer

More about Robert

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Dramaturg

More about Martine

Joseph Joubert

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Jason Ardizonne-West

Orchestrator

MORE ABOUT JOSEPH

Jason Ardizonne-West

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Jason Ardizonne-West

Scenic Designer

More about Jason

Xavier Pierce

Dominique Fawn Hill

Lighting Designer

More about Xavier

Dominique Fawn Hill

Costume Designer

More about Dominique

David Budries

Dominique Fawn Hill

David Budries

Sound Designer

More about David

Nikiya Mathis

Stephanie Klapper

David Budries

Hair & Wig Designer

More about Nikiya

Stephanie Klapper

Casting Agent

More about Stephanie

Our Development of GRACE

GRACE has been in development since 2014. Here are some key project milestones:

March 24, 2022

GRACE

The National Restaurant Association Educational Fund and “GRACE” announce partnership to celebrate the cultural diversity and traditions of Black-owned restaurants

March 19 - May 14, 2022

GRACE

World premiere and production run, Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C.

August 11 - August 24, 2021

GRACE

Work Session, The New 42nd Street Studios

Industry Presentations, Alvin Ailey Studios

July 12, 2021

GRACE

Variety.com announces that producers Dale A. Mott/Edgewood and NEWorks Productions—along with consulting producers Randy Adams and Sue Frost—will present two invitation-only industry presentations of GRACE in NYC on August 24, 2021.

May 25, 2021

GRACE

The #ByGrace Live Chat Series is awarded two Telly Awards Bronze Prizes for Best Non-Scripted Online Series and Best Food & Beverage Online Series.

April 20, 2021

GRACE

Ford’s Theatre Society Announces World-Premiere Musical to Premiere at Historic Ford’s Theatre in Spring 2022.

April 21, 2020

GRACE

Celebrity Chef Carla Hall and GRACE creator/composer Nolan Williams, Jr. launch the #ByGrace Live Chat Series on Facebook and Instagram, to share the history and themes that have inspired the show. The series has, to date, reached over 500,000 globally featuring special guests like businesswoman Sheila Johnson, author/food historian Michael Twitty, CBS This Morning Saturday Co-host Michelle Miller, and Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell.

April 12, 2020

GRACE

Celebrity Chef Carla Hall is announced as culinary ambassador.

"When Gran'Me Cooked," the finale selection from the show, is released on video featuring the Cast of GRACE. The music video has garnered 100,000+ combined reaches across multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and this official website).

March 25 - April 12, 2020

GRACE

2020 Humana Festival production run, Actors Theatre, Louisville, KY (cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)

January 2020

GRACE

Workshop Residency, Actors Theatre, Louisville, KY

October 2019

GRACE

Announcement of selection for the 2020 Humana Festival of New American Plays

May 2018

THE NOLAN WILLIAMS PROJECT (aka MINTON’S PLACE)

Workshop Residency, Cleveland Play House New Ground Theatre Festival, Cleveland, OH

May 2017

THE NOLAN WILLIAMS PROJECT

Workshop Residency, Cleveland Play House New Ground Theatre Festival, Cleveland, OH

June 27, 2016

A DATE WITH A DISH

Performance, 53rd Grand Boulé Archousai Luncheon, Washington, D.C.

About GRACE

Become a Friend of GRACE

Celebrating the world premiere of GRACE at Ford's Theatre

58 performances

20,000+ patrons from across the nation

2,000,000+ social media view

760 D.C. area students served through our matinee performances

8 critical reviews

1 BIG HIT!!!

And check out this WETA Arts/PBS feature story on GRACE

See what these critics are saying about GRACE

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a knockout of a musical"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...unstoppably entertaining"

"...a mouth-watering dish... served with super-charged music"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...a rich tapestry... with a wonderful score"

"...a delectable delight"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

"...some of the best music I've heard in a long time"

Broadway World's First Look Images of GRACE

And follow us on...

Our GRACE Production Team

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nikkole Salter

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Robert Barry Fleming

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Joseph Joubert

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Jason Ardizonne-West

Jason Ardizonne-West

Martine Kei Green-Rogers

Jason Ardizonne-West

Xavier Pierce

Dominique Fawn Hill

Dominique Fawn Hill

Dominique Fawn Hill

Dominique Fawn Hill

Dominique Fawn Hill

David Budries

Dominique Fawn Hill

David Budries

Nikiya Mathis

Stephanie Klapper

David Budries

Stephanie Klapper

Stephanie Klapper

Stephanie Klapper

Dale A. Mott / Edgewood

Dale A. Mott / Edgewood

Dale A. Mott / Edgewood

NEWorks Productions

Dale A. Mott / Edgewood

Dale A. Mott / Edgewood

Showtown Theatricals

Dale A. Mott / Edgewood

Showtown Theatricals

Meet our GRACE Cast

Our GRACE Ambassadors

Chef Carla Hall

We are thrilled to announce celebrity chef Carla Hall as our official Culinary Ambassador.

Sheila C. Johnson

Our Development of GRACE