Tony Award-winning actress Adrienne Warren is returning to the stage in a powerful new production of Imitation of Life, taking on the leading role of Delilah in the highly anticipated Off-Broadway musical.
Producers announced that Warren will star in the world premiere production at The Griffin Theater at The Shed in New York City, with performances beginning November 21, 2026. The musical will officially open on December 3 and is scheduled for a strictly limited engagement through January 3, 2027.
The new musical features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, an original score by EGOT winner John Legend, and direction by two-time Tony Award nominee Whitney White. The production is being presented as a co-production between The Shed and the National Black Theatre.
Adrienne Warren Takes on Delilah
Warren will portray Delilah, one of the central characters in this new stage adaptation of Fannie Hurst’s acclaimed 1933 novel.
For Warren, the role represents another major chapter in an already impressive theater career. She became internationally recognized for portraying music legend Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Her performance earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, along with other major theater honors.
Warren has also appeared in productions including Shuffle Along, Bring It On: The Musical, Dreamgirls, The Wiz, The Last Five Years, and The Wild Party. Her screen credits include Women of the Movement, Rustin, The Woman King, Black Cake and The Diplomat.
The actress said developing the role of Delilah over the years has become a highlight of her career and that she has grown deeply attached to the character.
Warren also described joining the creative team as an honor and expressed excitement about finally sharing the character with audiences.
John Legend’s First Major Musical as a Composer
Imitation of Life is also an important project for John Legend, who is creating the show’s original music and lyrics.
Legend is already an EGOT-winning artist, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award during his career. The musical marks a significant new step for him as a composer for the stage.
Legend has previously been involved with Broadway productions as a producer and contributed music to SpongeBob SquarePants, but Imitation of Life represents his first major musical stage project built around an original score.
Legend praised Warren’s talent and said he was thrilled that she would bring Delilah to life.
He also expressed excitement about audiences hearing Warren’s voice in the first musical he has composed.
Lynn Nottage Brings the Story to the Stage
The musical’s book comes from Lynn Nottage, one of the most acclaimed playwrights working today.
Nottage is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, recognized for works including Ruined and Sweat. She also wrote the book for the Broadway musical MJ.
For Imitation of Life, Nottage is adapting a story that has already had a major impact on American literature and film.
Fannie Hurst’s original novel was first published in 1933 and explores race, class, identity, motherhood, ambition and the pursuit of the American Dream.
A Story That Spans Generations
Imitation of Life follows two single mothers—one Black and one white—and their daughters as they build a life together while navigating a society divided by race and class.
The story moves between 1920s Atlantic City and 1930s New York, exploring the sacrifices people make in their pursuit of success, love, acceptance and a better future for their children.
At the heart of the story are questions about identity and belonging, including what people are willing to sacrifice in order to be accepted and what parents pass down to the next generation.
Those themes remain relevant decades after Hurst’s novel was first published.
From Novel to Hollywood Classics
Hurst’s novel previously inspired two major Universal Pictures film adaptations.
The first arrived in 1934, directed by John M. Stahl and starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers.
A second and more widely remembered adaptation arrived in 1959, directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner.
The 1934 film was later selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical and aesthetic significance. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. The 1959 film received two Oscar nominations, including recognition for Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner
Now, more than 90 years after the original novel was published, the story is being reimagined for the musical stage.
Whitney White Directs the New Production
Whitney White is directing the new stage production.
White is a Tony Award-nominated director, actor and musician whose work has earned recognition for its innovative approach to storytelling. She most recently received a 2026 Tony Award nomination for directing Liberation.
White replaced previously announced director Liesl Tommy during the musical’s development. The production’s schedule was also shifted from its originally announced fall engagement to the current November 2026-January 2027 run.
The production is being backed by an extensive group of producers, including the National Black Theatre, Universal Theatrical Group, Get Lifted Film Co., The Shed and LD Entertainment, among others.
The World Premiere Comes to The Shed
The musical will premiere at The Griffin Theater at The Shed, a cultural institution located in New York City’s Hudson Yards.
Performances are scheduled to begin November 21, with the official opening set for December 3. The engagement is scheduled to run through January 3, 2027.
Additional casting and members of the design and creative teams are expected to be announced at a later date.
A Major Moment for Adrienne Warren
For Warren, Imitation of Life provides another opportunity to combine her powerful acting and singing abilities in a demanding theatrical role.
Her history with Tina demonstrated her ability to portray an iconic woman while bringing emotional depth and vocal strength to the stage. Her performance as Tina Turner ultimately made her a Tony Award winner.
Now she will step into a very different role as Delilah in a story centered on race, motherhood, identity and the complicated choices people make while trying to create better lives for themselves and their children.
With Warren leading the production, Nottage bringing the story to the stage, Legend creating the music and White directing, Imitation of Life is shaping up to be one of the notable new theatrical productions of the 2026-27 season.
The story has already traveled from a groundbreaking 1933 novel to two major Hollywood films. Now it is getting a new life through music and live theater.
And with Adrienne Warren leading the way, Imitation of Life is preparing to begin a new chapter Off-Broadway this fall.
