Broadway | Musical
The Funkentine Rapture
🎤 THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE: A Funk Fable
Music and Lyrics by Lee Summers
Book by Lee Summers & Ben Blake
Directed by James Monroe Iglehart
Music Director/Arranger: Lon Hoyt
Producing Associate: Kent Nicholson
Set in Harlem, 1977, where funk is identity and culture is currency, a community is torn apart as disco—a slick, market-driven imitation—threatens to replace the real thing.
When aspiring singer George Preston sets his sights on winning the Funk Fest at the Apollo to prove himself and win Simone Funk, he’s pulled into a battle much bigger than he understands—one that will force him to choose between chasing success… and claiming his truth.
A bold, satirical musical comedy about authenticity, ambition, and the cost of selling out.
Can you keep your funk and still win?
2025 – 29 HOUR READING DIRECTED BY JAMES MONROE IGLEHART, MUSICAL DIRECTION BY LON HOYT
2024 – UPCOMING READING AT K/Q PLAYWRIGHTS GROUP 4/18/2024
2017 – THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE CONCERT AT 54 BELOW STARRING TONY WINNERS JAMES MONROE IGLEHART AND LILLIAS WHITE
2007 – THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE IS FEATURED IN CLEVELAND PLAYHOUSE/KARAMU THEATRE’S ‘FUSION-FEST.’
2007 – CHESTER GREGORY, KECIA LEWIS-EVANS AND MORE SING FUNKENTINE RAPTURE IN NYC
2005 – TONY WINNER BILLY PORTER STARS IN THE FUNKENTINE RAPTURE WHEN THE SHOW WAS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR MUSICAL THEATRE’S FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS
2005 – WORKSHOPPED AT THEATREWORKS SILICON VALLEY
Director: James Monroe Iglehart
Book: Lee Summers & Ben Blake
Music/Lyrics: Lee Summers
Musical Director/Music Supervisor: Lon Hoyt
2026
Support Development
The Funkentine Rapture is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts service organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
The song list glides through everything from “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” to selections from the “Songbook” albums Fitzgerald recorded celebrating great composers such as Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and Rodgers and Hart.
Lee Summers incorporation of the band being used as ensemble members was as brilliant as John Doyle using his Sweeney Todd ensemble as the pit orchestra. I was also moved by Lee’s brilliant timely direction of Ms. Payne’s performance of Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington’s “The Nearness of You”.
