The extraordinary life and seven-decade career of blues legend Bobby Rush will take center stage in “Slippin’ Through the Cracks: The Bobby Rush Musical,” a new production making its world premiere at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Mississippi, October 20 through November 1, 2026.
The musical follows Rush’s journey from his childhood as the son of a sharecropper to becoming a Grammy Award-winning performer whose music and showmanship have earned him international recognition. Blending live music with storytelling, the production explores the history of the blues, the challenges Rush faced throughout his life and the perseverance that helped him build a remarkable career.
Three actors will portray Rush at different stages of his life. Mark Henderson will play Older Bobby Rush, Rajeer Alford will portray Bobby Rush, and Jaden White will play Young Bobby Rush.
The supporting cast includes Joy Brashears Amerson, Grady Champion, Nancy Cheney, Melessie Clark, Jayla Lomax, Nicholas Patrick, Quinton Powell, Chris Roebuck, Vershaune Stamps and Joe Tomberlin. The performers will bring several iconic figures from music history to the stage, including Chuck Berry, James Brown, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Koko Taylor, Rufus Thomas and Chess Records founder Leonard Chess.
Rush contributes the musical score and shares book-writing duties with Stephen Lloyd Helper, who conceived the production. Helper and Matthew Johnson Harris will co-direct the musical, with Harris also handling choreography. Jeremy Jones serves as musical director and orchestrator.
The creative team also includes set and projection designer Omid Akbari, costume designers Theresa J. Bush and Deonica Davis, lighting designer Anna Dunbar and sound designer Callie Jackson.
At 92, Rush continues to build on a career defined by his distinctive harmonica playing, energetic performances and witty storytelling. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner, earning honors for “Porcupine Meat,” “Rawer Than Raw” and “All My Love for You,” released in 2024. His celebrated songs include “Chicken Heads” and “I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya.”
The musical’s central message emphasizes resilience, opportunity and the power of pursuing one’s passion despite adversity. Its story traces Rush’s experiences in the segregated blues scene of Chicago, where he crossed paths with influential musicians, before his music reached audiences around the world.
The stage production arrives amid renewed interest in Rush’s legacy. The documentary “King of the Chitlin’ Circuit,” directed by Al Warren and produced by Taiwo Gaynor, chronicles his seven-decade career. Following its Mississippi Public Broadcasting premiere in August, the film is scheduled to begin airing nationally on PBS in late November.
“Slippin’ Through the Cracks: The Bobby Rush Musical” will be presented at New Stage Theatre’s Jane Reid-Petty Theatre Center, 1100 Carlisle St., Jackson. Tickets are available at NewStageTheatre.com, with additional production information at SlippinThroughTheCracks.com.