This Sunday, North Texas performer Cedric Neal could win London’s version of the Tony

At the luncheon for the Olivier Award nominees, Dallas-born performer Cedric Neal poses with a bust of Sir Laurence Olivier as Henry V from his film, Henry V. The trophies themselves are smaller versions of the bust.Actor-singer Cedric Neal gained acclaim in North Texas musical productions — from Fort Worth’s Jubilee Theater to the Dallas Theater Center, where he made his debutNow he’s acclaimed in England, as well.

Previously, British directors had told Neal that — when it came to the kind of Black gospel singing he’s been doing since he was four years old in Oak Cliff — he needed to scale it back for London audiences.They told him, “we know who we hired,” Neal said. “The song was written to be a rousing, gospel number. Give us Cedric.”So in the first verses, Neal sings “Sit Down” mostly straight.

Neal was already known — at least in London theater circles. In 2011, he left Dallas for New York. He snagged his first Broadway musical as an understudy to David Alan Grier as Sportin’ Life in, Neal was cast. Before he could tell his then-fiancé Mitchell Darden-Kiever the news, Darden-Kiever told Neal that his risk management firm had just promoted him -- to its headquarters in London.So moving to England was an easy choice.

Cedric Neal, center, as Sportin' Life in "The Gershwins Porgy and Bess" at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London in 2014.But, he said, “when they realized I was staying, this was home, and I was doing the work, it changed.”in 2019 would tell a lot more people that England was now his home. And that he’s a formidable singer., Neal didn’t get past the semifinals. But 8 million viewers of the telecast saw his bring-down-the-house audition with Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.

Source: Entertainment Trends (entertainmenttrends.net)

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