AMAZING GRACE is a pre-Broadway World Premiere musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song. A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change.
John Newton (Tony Award nominee Josh Young), a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of father — a slave trader — and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart. But when a perilous voyage on the high seas finds John in his darkest hour, a transformative moment of self-reckoning inspires a blazing anthem of hope that will finally guide him home.
Brimming with emotion and adventure, AMAZING GRACE is an unforgettable musical saga that captures the spirit of history’s sweetest and most powerful sound: freedom.
AMAZING GRACE is produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and presented by Broadway In Chicago. On the announcement, Ms. Copeland said, “I am thrilled to be producing AMAZING GRACE. ‘Amazing Grace’ is the world’s most beloved song, yet so few know the story behind it or John Newton, the man who penned it. This adventure and love story captured my imagination and I am privileged to bring it to Chicago audiences.”
Lou Raizin, President of Broadway In Chicago, added, “We are honored to present the world premiere of this rich and vibrant musical to audiences in Chicago.” “We are so thrilled to see that audiences in Chicago will experience AMAZING GRACE. It’s a musical that is near and dear to our hearts because it is so beautiful and powerful,” added Michael Price, Executive Director, Goodspeed Musicals, where a developmental workshop of the musical was presented in the Spring of 2012.
