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Colman Domingo, a 2011 Tony Award nominee for his performance in The Scottsboro Boys (best featured actor in a musical), will be performing his one-man show, A Boy and His Soul, for over 700 New York City high school students who are participating in Theatre Development Fund’s Stage Doors Program. There will be three performances of the show - Monday, May 9 at 2pm and Tuesday, May 10 at10am and 2pm, at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center – Theatre 2 at 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to present Colman’s inspirational show for our Stage Doors students,” said Marianna Houston, TDF’s Director of Education. “I know that experiencing A Boy and His Soul in an intimate setting will be a memorable experience for these new theatergoers.”

When asked how he felt about performing for this special audience, Colman Domingo said, “I'm am so excited to share this story with the people who have the most soul in this city -- NYC youth!”

Stage Doors is a project based theatre education program integrated with the curriculum of participating classrooms.  Each year over 5,000 students from underserved New York City high schools participate in the program, at no cost to the students or the school. The Stage Doors program consists of eight in-class workshops designed by the classroom teacher in collaboration with a TDF teaching artist, with theatre attendance serving as the inspiration for or climax of the workshop content.  It is TDF’s intention to provide not only the students, but also the teachers with the skills to sustain their enjoyment and understanding of live theatre beyond the duration of Stage Doors in their classroom.

The students who will be attending the three performances of A Boy and His Soul are from the following New York City High Schools:

BROOKLN: ACORN Community High School; ACORN High School for Social Justice; Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School; High School for Global Citizenship;

THE BRONX: Bronx Health Sciences High School; International Community High School;

MANHATTAN: George Washington High School; High School of Graphic Communication Arts; High School of International Business and Finance; Manhattan Theatre Lab; The Expeditionary School for Community Leadership; Young Women’s Leadership High School; and

QUEENS: Flushing International High School; Middle College High School.

A Boy and His Soul, which premiered at the Vineyard Theater during the 2009-10 season, is a moving and hilarious play that explores the life-experiences of a young African-American man in 1980s Philadelphia, propelled by the beat of classic soul music. Tony Kelly directed and Ken Roberson choreographed the play written and performed by Mr. Domingo.

Colman Domingo was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – the proud son of working class Clarence and Edith Bowles.  He was educated at Temple University and moved to San Francisco to begin a career on the stage.  Mr. Colman is an Obie, Lucille Lortel and GLAAD Award winner, as well as a Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League nominee. He is currently appearing on Broadway in Chicago as Billy Flynn. He recently starred on Broadway in Kander and Ebb's The Scottsboro Boys directed by Susan Stroman, for which he earned a 2011 Tony nomination, and his self-penned A Boy and His Soul at the Vineyard Theatre. Colman has been seen on Broadway and in the Spike Lee-directed film of the Tony Award-winning Passing Strange. He has performed for New York City Center Encores!, NYSF/Public, MCC, Long Wharf, Guthrie, Berkeley Rep, Huntington, A.C.T. and Theaterworks, among others. Film: Passing Strange, Miracle at St. Anna, King of the Bingo Game, Freedomland, Kung Phooey!, Around the Fire, True Crime.

Theatre Development Fund has played a unique role in strengthening live theatre and dance in New York City for the past 43 years. This not-for-profit service organization’s programs have filled over 78 million seats at discount prices (with theatre lovers who would normally not be able to attend live performance) and returned nearly two billion dollars in revenue to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF’s membership, voucher, access and education programs as well as its Costume Collection, help to make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone. TDF’s book, Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play, has spurred a national conversation about the way playwrights and theatre companies interact. TDF recently launched the Official TKTS app which has been embraced by theatre fans the world over.