# A Night with Janis Joplin

A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical that includes works of singer-songwriter Janis Joplin (1943–1970). Written and directed by Randy Johnson, the show has toured consistently since 2011, with a forthcoming stint at the Peacock Theatre in London beginning on August 20, 2024.
The show mounted at Portland Center Stage from May 24 through June 26, 2011 with Cat Stephani in the lead role, before it traveled for stints at The Allen Theatre at the Cleveland Playhouse, the Mead Center for American Theater, Milkwaukee Repertory Theater, and the Arena Stage in Washington, DC in 2012 with Mary Bridget Davies. One review wrote of the opening night that “Davies not only filled in, she transcended, delivering a performance so raw, real and in-the-moment that it brought people to their feet again and again.”
A Night with Janis Joplin officially opened at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway on October 10, 2013 and closed in February, after 140 performances. The show was produced by Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich, in association with The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol for JAM, Inc.
The Broadway version garnered a Tony Award Nomination for the lead actress Mary Bridget Davies. Davies, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, has previously played Joplin in the 2005 production of Love, Janis. She has also toured in Europe with Joplin’s original band, Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Post-Broadway, the show traveled through North America beginning in 2015, touring for seven years and making over 130 stops at cities including Toronto, Ontario, Los Angeles, California, Detroit, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri, Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia and more.
On August 23, 25 and 26 of 2022, the show traveled to Japan for three days of performances at the Tokyo International Forum Hall for an all-Japanese cast helmed by singer Aina the End playing the lead role of Janis Joplin.
In 2023, it was announced that the hit show would move to the West End for a limited-run at the Peacock Theatre in London from August 20 – September 28, 2024 with Mary Bridget Davies returning to star in the lead role.

## Productions

Pre-Broadway :
| Date | City | Venue |
| May 24 – June 26, 2011 | Portland, OR | Portland Center Stage |
| July 27 – August 19, 2012 | Cleveland, OH | The Allen Theatre at the Cleveland Playhouse |
| September 28 – November 4, 2012 | Washington DC | Arena Stage |
| March 15 – April 21, 2013 | Los Angeles, CA | Pasadena Playhouse |
| May 3 – June 2, 2013 | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Repertory Theater |
| June 21 – August 11, 2013 | Washington DC | Arena Stage (second run in DC) |
| July 10 – August 25, 2013 | Austin, TX | Zach’s Topfer Theatre |
| September 5 – October 6, 2013 | San Jose, CA | San Jose Repertory Theater |
Broadway :
| Date | City | Venue |
| September 20, 2013 – February 9, 2014 | New York, NY | Lyceum Theater (140 shows) |
North America Tour :
| Date | City | Venue |
| July 21 – August 23, 2015 | Los Angeles, CA | Pasadena Playhouse (second run) |
| February 9 - February 21, 2016 | Toronto, ON | Panasonic Theatre |
| February 23, 2016 | Hampton, VA | The American Theatre |
| February 24, 2016 | Ridgefield, CT | The Ridgefield Playhouse |
| February 25, 2016 | Morristown, NJ | Mayo PAC |
| February 26, 2016 | New Bedford, MA | Zeiterion PAC |
| February 27, 2016 | Lynn, MA | The Lynn Auditorium |
| February 28, 2016 | Red Bank, NJ | Count Basie Theatre |
| March 1, 2016 | Reading, PA | Santander PAC |
| March 2, 2016 | Cleveland, OH | Palace Theatre |
| March 3 - March 4th, 2016 | Dayton, OH | Victoria Theatre |
| March 5, 2016 | Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre |
| March 6, 2016 | Milwaukee, WI | Pabst Theatre |
| March 7, 2016 | Cedar Rapids, IA | Paramount Theatre |
| March 9, 2016 | Beaver Creek | Vilar PAC |
| March 10 - March 12, 2016 | Fort Collins, CO | Lincoln Center |
| March 13, 2016 | Rapid City, SD | Rushmore Plaza |
| March 15, 2016 | Des Moines, IA | Hoyt Sherman |
| March 16, 2016 | Wichita, KS | Orpheum Arena |
| March 17 - March 18, 2016 | Fayetteville, AR | Riverside Theatre |
| March 19 - March 20, 2016 | St. Louis, MO | Peabody |
| March 22 - March 27, 2016 | Kansas City, MO | Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland |
| March 25 – April 17, 2016 | Seattle, WA | 5th Avenue Theatre (Second company)* |
| March 29 - April 3, 2016 | St. Paul, MN | Ordway Center |
| April 5 - April 10, 2016 | Winnipeg, MB | Burton Cummings |
| April 11, 2016 | Thunder Bay, ON | Thunder Bay Community Aud. |
| April 13, 2016 | Cincinnati, OH | Aronoff Center |
| April 14, 2016 | Durham, NC | DPAC |
| April 15 - April 16, 2016 | Nashville, TN | James K. Polk Theatre |
| April 17, 2016 | Atlanta, GA | Fox Theatre |
| April 18, 2016 | New Orleans, LA | Saenger Theatre |
| April 20, 2016 | Daytona Beach, FL | Peabody Auditorium |
| April 21, 2016 | Jacksonville, FL | Florida Theatre |
| April 22, 2016 | St. Petersburg, FL | Mahaffey Theatre |
| April 23, 2016 | West Palm Beach, FL | Dreyfoos Hall |
| April 24 , 2016 | Charleston, SC | Gillard Center |
| July 8 - August 7, 2016 | Albany, NY | Capital Repertory Theatre (The rep) |
| August 18 - September 10, 2016 | Abingdon, VA | Barter Theatre |
| August 19 - September 18, 2016 | Houston, TX | Alley Theatre |
| June 7 - July 16, 2017 | San Francisco, CA | American Conservatory Theatre |
| August 16 - September 10, 2017 | Laguna Beach, CA | Laguna Playhouse |
| October 10 - October 29, 2017 | Princeton, NJ | McCarter Theatre Center |
| November 3, 2017 | Orillia, ON | Casinorama |
| November 4, 2017 | Windsor, ON | Casino |
| November 7, 2017 | Columbus, OH | Palace Theatre |
| November 8, 2017 | Louisville, KY | Brown Theatre |
| November 9, 2017 | Cleveland, OH | Conor Palace |
| November 10, 2017 | Rosemont, IL | Rosemont Theatre |
| November 11, 2017 | Dixon, IL | Historic Dixon Theatre |
| November 12, 2017 | Madison, WI | Overture Center |
| November 14, 2017 | Huntington, WV | Keith Albee |
| November 15, 2017 | York, PA | Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Theatre |
| November 16, 2017 | Easton, PA | State Theatre |
| November 17, 2017 | Derry, NH | Stockbridge Theatre |
| November 18, 2017 | Springfield, MA | Symphony Hall |
| November 19, 2017 | North Bethesda, MD | Strathmore Theater |
| January 8, 2018 | Sarasota, FL | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall |
| January 9, 2018 | The Villages, FL | Sharon Morse PAC |
| January 10, 2018 | St. Petersburg, FL | The Mahaffey |
| January 13, 2018 | Ft. Pierce, FL | Sunrise Theatre |
| January 14, 2018 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Parker Playhouse |
| January 17, 2018 | Red Bank, NJ | Count Basie Theatre |
| January 18, 2018 | Williamsport, PA | Community Theatre |
| January 19 - January 20, 2018 | Boston, MA | Boch Center |
| January 23, 2018 | Fort Worth, TX | Bass Hall |
| January 24, 2018 | San Antonio, TX | Tobin Center for the Performing Arts |
| January 25, 2018 | Orange, TX | Lutcher Theatre |
| January 26, 2018 | Richardson, TX | Eisemann Center for Performing Arts |
| January 27, 2018 | Midland, TX | Wagner Noel |
| January 28, 2018 | Amarillo, TX | Globe News Center |
| January 30, 2018 | Mankato, MN | Verizon Wireless Center |
| January 31, 2018 | Fairfield, IA | Sondheim Center |
| February 1, 2018 | Wichita, KS | Orpheum |
| February 2, 2018 | Colorado Springs, CO | Pikes Peak Center |
| February 3, 2018 | Denver, CO | Paramount Theatre |
| February 6, 2018 | Tucson, AZ | Fox Theatre |
| February 7 - February 8, 2018 | San Diego, CA | Balboa Theatre |
| February 9, 2018 | Indio, CA | Fantasy Springs Resort |
| February 11, 2018 | Portland, OR | Keller Auditorium |
| February 13, 2018 | Bremerton, WA | Admiral Theatre |
| February 14, 2018 | Spokane, WA | INB Event Center |
| February 15, 2018 | Bellingham, WA | Mt. Baker Theatre |
| February 17, 2018 | Beverly Hills, CA | Saban Theatre |
| February 18, 2018 | Redding, CA | Redding Civic Center |
| May 4 – May 20, 2018 | Raleigh, NC | A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater (21 shows)* |
| May 3- June 24, 2018 | Ivoryton, CT | Ivoryton Playhouse (20 shows)* |
| September 14 – October 7, 2018 | La Mirada, CA | La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts* |
| October 9, 2018 | Visalia, CA | Visalia Fox Theatre |
| October 10, 2018 | Merced, CA | The Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre |
| October 11, 2018 | San Rafael, CA | Marin Center |
| October 16, 2018 | Walnut Creek, CA | Lesher Center For the Arts Hofmann Theatre |
| October 17, 2018 | Monterey, CA | Golden State Theatre |
| October 19, 2018 | Redwood City, CA | Fox Theatre |
| October 20, 2018 | Stockton, CA | Bob Hope Theatre |
| October 21, 2018 | Santa Cruz, CA | Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium |
| October 23, 2018 | San Francisco, CA | The Warfield |
| October 24, 2018 | Yountville, CA | Napa Valley Performing Arts Center |
| October 25, 2018 | Fresno, CA | Saroyan Theatre |
| October 26, 2018 | Bakersfield, CA | The Bakersfield Fox Theatre |
| October 27, 2018 | Santa Barbara, CA | Arlington Theater |
| October 28, 2018 | Escondido, CA | California Center for the Arts |
| September 13, 2019 | Beverly, MA | The Cabot |
| September 14, 2019 | Beverly, MA | The Cabot |
| September 15, 2019 | Worcester, MA | Hanover Theatre |
| September 17, 2019 | Lebanon, NH | Lebanon Opera House |
| September 18, 2019 | Red Bank, NJ | Count Basie Center for the Arts |
| September 19, 2019 | Morristown, NJ | Mayo Performing Arts Center |
| September 20, 2019 | New London, CT | Garde Arts Center |
| September 21, 2019 | Kingston, NY | Ulster Performing Arts Center |
| September 22, 2019 | Tarrytown, NY | Tarrytown Music Hall |
| September 24, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA | Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts |
| September 25, 2019 | Washington, DC | Warner Theatre |
| September 26, 2019 | Greensburg, PA | The Palace Theatre |
| September 27, 2019 | Lorain, OH | Lorain Palace |
| September 28, 2019 | Van Wert, OH | Niswonger PAC |
| September 29, 2019 | Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre |
| September 30, 2019 | Pikeville, KY | East Kentucky Expo Center |
| October 1, 2019 | Cincinnati, OH | Aronoff Center |
| October 3, 2019 | Cedar Rapids, IA | Paramount Theatre |
| October 4, 2019 | Champaign, IL | Virginia Theatre |
| October 5, 2019 | Waukegan, IL (Chicago) | Genesee Theatre |
| October 6, 2019 | Prior Lake, MN | Mystic Lake Casino |
| October 7, 2019 | Joliet, IL | Rialto Square Theatre |
| October 8 - October 9, 2019 | St. Louis, MO | Stifel Theatre |
| October 10, 2019 | Richmond, KY | EKU Center for the Arts |
| October 12, 2019 | Overland Park, KS | Yardley Hall |
| October 13, 2019 | Sioux Falls, SD | Orpheum Theater Center |
| October 15, 2019 | Santa Rosa, CA | Luther Burbank Center |
| October 16, 2019 | San Jose, CA | Center for the Performing Arts |
| October 17, 2019 | Pasadena, CA | The Rose |
| October 18, 2019 | Beverly Hills, CA | The Saban |
| October 20, 2019 | San Diego, CA | Balboa Theatre |
| January 29 – March 8, 2020 | Austin, TX | Zach Theatre |
| May 13 – May 29, 2022 | New Orleans, LA | Le Petit Theatre |
* March 25 – April 17, 2016: Opening Night March 31st (Previews – March 25,26, 29 & 30)
* May 4 – May 20, 2018: Paige Mcnamara & Francesca Ferrari shared billing
* May 3- June 24, 2018: Paige Mcnamara & Francesca Ferrari shared billing
* September 14 – October 7, 2018: Marie Bridget Davies as lead
* Shows from October 9, 2018 - October 28, 2018: Marie Bridget Davies as lead
Japanese Tour :
| Date | City | Venue |
| August 23, 25 & 26, 2022 | Tokyo, Japan | Tokyo International Forum Hall A |
West End :
| Date | City | Venue |
| August 20 – September 28, 2024 | London, UK | Peacock Theatre, London |

## Critical Response

The original Broadway production was met with exceptional reviews from publications like The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, ABC World News Now and more.
Variety Magazine wrote: “It’s a stunning celebration of the blues and those beautiful bruises they leave on a singer’s soul,” while USA Today called it “A dynamic, powerful musical journey back through the late 1960s. Janis Joplin is alive and well in this electrifying Broadway musical. The show features 26 musical numbers precisely paced throughout the show, each building more and more momentum and energy along the incredible journey that is A Night With Janis Joplin.”
The New York Times wrote that A Night with Janis Joplin “Rocks the house with a fervor that is riveting.”
David C. Nichols of the Los Angeles Times wrote: “In a cosmic collusion of persona and perception, this electrifying concert musical resurrects the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll with the sort of seismically sensational results normally encountered at stadiums and pop festivals... the premise is basic, unvarnished and supremely effective. Neither venue nor attendees may ever be the same.”

## Characters

Included in the show are depictions of Janis Joplin as well as her musical influences: Chantel, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Odetta, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

## Awards & Nominations

| Association | Year | Category | Nominee | Result |
| Cleveland Critics Circle Awards | 2012 | Best Regional Touring Production | - | Nominated |
| Cleveland Critics Circle Awards | 2012 | Best Actress | Mary Bridget Davies | Nominated |
| Cleveland Critics Circle Awards | 2012 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards - Cleveland | 2012 | Best Musical | - | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards - Cleveland | 2012 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards - Cleveland | 2012 | Best Actress | Mary Bridget Davies | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards - Cleveland | 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Sabrina Carten | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards - Cleveland | 2012 | Best Costume Design | Jeff Cone | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards - Cleveland | 2012 | Best Scenic Design | Justin Townsend | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards – Washington DC | 2012 | Best Musical | - | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards – Washington DC | 2012 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards – Washington DC | 2012 | Best Actress | Mary Bridget Davies | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards – Washington DC | 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Sabrina Carten | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards – Washington DC | 2012 | Best Costume Design | Jeff Cone | Nominated |
| Broadway World Awards – Washington DC | 2012 | Best Scenic Design | Justin Townsend | Nominated |
| Helen Hayes Awards | 2012 | Best Actress | Mary Bridget Davies | Nominated |
| Helen Hayes Awards | 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Sabrina Carten | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Theatre Awards | 2013 | Best Musical | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Theatre Awards | 2013 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Theatre Awards | 2013 | Best Actress | Kacee Clanton | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Theatre Awards | 2013 | Best Supporting Actress | Tiffany Mann | Nominated |
| Austin Critics Table Awards | 2013 | Best Supporting Actress | Tiffany Mann | Won |
| Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle | 2013 | Best Actress | Mary Bridget Davies | Won |
| Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle | 2013 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Won |
| Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle | 2013 | Best Supporting Actress | Sabrina Carten | Won |
| Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle | 2013 | Best Musical Director | Ross Selgiman | Won |
| FRED Awards – Pasadena Playhouse | 2013 | Best Musical | - | Won |
| FRED Awards – Pasadena Playhouse | 2013 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Won |
| FRED Awards – Pasadena Playhouse | 2013 | Best Actress | Mary Bridget Davies | Won |
| NAACP Theatre Awards | 2014 | Best Supporting Actress | Sabrina Carten | Won |
| NAACP Theatre Awards | 2014 | Best Scenic Design | Justin Townsend | Won |
| NAACP Theatre Awards | 2014 | Best Musical | - | Won |
| NAACP Theatre Awards | 2014 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Won |
| NAACP Theatre Awards | 2014 | Best Costume Design | Jeff Cone | Won |
| NAACP Theatre Awards | 2014 | Best Music Direction | Ross Seligman | Won |
| Broadway World – Best Original Cast Album 2014 New York Drama League | 2014 | Best Actress in a Musical | Mary Bridget Davies | Nominated |
| Tony Awards | 2014 | Best Actress in a Musical | Mary Bridget Davies | Nominated |
| Bay Area Theatre Awards | 2017 | Best Musical | - | Won |
| Bay Area Theatre Awards | 2017 | Best Ensemble in a Musical | - | Won |
| Bay Area Theatre Awards | 2017 | Best Musical Director | Todd Olson | Won |
| Bay Area Theatre Awards | 2017 | Best Director | Randy Johnson | Nominated |
| Bay Area Theatre Awards | 2017 | Best Leading Actress in a Musical | Kacee Clanton | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Musical Production | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Director | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Director | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Book of a Musical | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Actress | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Actress | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Supporting Actress | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Ensemble | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Lighting Design | - | Nominated |
| San Francisco Critics Circle | 2018 | Best Costume Design | - | Nominated |
| Los Angeles Ovation Awards | 2019 | Best Presented Musical | LA Mirada Theatre | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Musical | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Director | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Book of a Musical | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Actress | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Supporting Actress | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Ensemble | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Lighting Design | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Costume Design | - | Nominated |
| B. Iden Payne Awards | 2019/20 | Best Musical Direction | - | Nominated |

## Director

A Night with Janis Joplin was written and directed by Randy Johnson who said of the show: “The remarkable thing about this production is that it has never felt like work. Through Janis and her story so many of our dreams have come true and it truly has been a joyful experience."

## Producers

Producers of the original Broadway production include: Daniel Chilewich, Todd Gershwin, Michael Cohl, Jeffrey Jampol, TCG Entertainment LLC, Red Tail Entertainment, Stephen Tenenbaum, Richard Winkler, Michael J. Moritz Jr., Corey Brunish, Brisa Trinchero, Ginger Productions, Bill Ham, Claudio Loureiro, Keith Mardak, Ragovoy Entertainment LLC, Bob & Laurie Wolf. Neil Kahanovitz, Mike Stoller, Corky Hale Stoller, Darren P. Deverna, Susan DuBow, Tanya Grubich, Jeremiah J. Harris, Jerry Rosenberg, AJ Michaels, Herb Spivak, Red Awning (Executive Producer), and Nicole Kastrinos (Executive Producer).