PASSING STRANGE -- the new musical that began previews on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on February 8 prior to its opening night on February 28 -- ends 2007 having earned a number of honors, including a designation as one of the "10 Best Plays, Theater Yearbook 2006-2007," along with four Audelco Awards, including Musical Production of the Year.

Along with these honors, Stew -- one of the creators and stars of PASSING STRANGE -- was a special guest deejay for WNYC-FM radio's annual "Must Have Festival" of music on Friday, December 14th at 7 p.m. on 93.9 FM. This annual edition of the "Must Have Festival" (air dates Dec. 10-14) featured music chosen and played by five artists and activists, including Stew, who are significantly impacting New York's physical, cultural and environmental landscape, inviting them to dig through their CD collection and plug in their iPod to share the musical that has inspired them.

In addition to its Audelco Award for Musical Production of the Year, PASSING STRANGE earned Audelcos for Outstanding Director/Musical Production, Annie Dorsen; Outstanding Musical Director, Heidi Rodewald; and Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Male Actor, Daniel Breaker. Now in their 35th year, the Audelco Awards honor excellence in black theatre.

Also, in November 2007, Out Magazine selected Stew as one of its Out 100 for 2007, and Vibe Magazine singled out Stew in its September, New Power Generation issue, as "the Rogue Librettist" for PASSING STRANGE.

With book and lyrics by the popular singer/songwriter Stew, and with music by Stew and his longtime musical partner Heidi Rodewald, PASSING STRANGE is directed by and created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. PASSING STRANGE is the first musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, best-known for the Afro-baroque sound they have patented since 2000 when they formed the band Stew, promptly winning two Album of the Year Awards from Entertainment Weekly for their acclaimed works "Guest Host" and "The Naked Dutch Painter."

PASSING STRANGE moved uptown from The Public Theater -- where it enjoyed great critical and popular success last summer, and extended its engagement -- with its original cast intact: de'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Stew, himself. A band of consummate musicians joins the cast on stage, including co-creator Heidi Rodewald, along with Jon Spurney, Christian Cassan and Stew.

PASSING STRANGE is produced on Broadway by The Shubert Organization, Inc., Elizabeth Ireland McCann and the Public Theater. PASSING STRANGE was originally produced by the Berkeley Repertory Theater and The Public Theater.

PASSING STRANGE has choreography by Karole Armitage, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy, and lighting design by Kevin Adams.

With a score that has some of the most tuneful, soulful rock songs, and witty, thought-provoking lyrics in recent memory, PASSING STRANGE is the moving and hilarious tale of a young black bohemian on a journey of escape and exploration: leaving the confines of his middle-class, church-reared youth in south central L.A., the further he travels the more he discovers the journey within is the one that counts.

When PASSING STRANGE opened last season, The New York Times called the musical "Fresh, exuberant and bitingly funny….This bracingly inventive show introduces an exciting new voice to contemporary musical theater." Variety praised PASSING STRANGE for its "excellent songs and vulnerable heart." The New Yorker wrote that PASSING STRANGE is "a brilliant work…a finely-crafted, ethnic-minded American musical." The Associated Press called it, "A soulful and entertaining new musical, an original piece which seems to scoff at convention, falling somewhere between the common notion of musical theater and a hyper-theatrical rock concert." And New York Magazine said PASSING STRANGE is "a new musical that -- amazing! -- actually feels relevant."

Under the auspices of The Public Theater in collaboration with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Sundance Institute, PASSING STRANGE received an in-depth play development process over the last three years, through a series of readings, workshops and concerts which culminated in a successful off-Broadway production. As a frequent performer at Joe's Pub, The Public Theater identified Stew as an artist with great potential to crossover from the music world to theater.

Stew is the critically-acclaimed singer, songwriter, founder and leader of The Negro Problem, a pop rock combo from Los Angeles. The group's albums "Post Minstrel Syndrome" and "Joys &Concerns" garnered nationwide acclaim, followed by the founding of the ensemble Stew. In addition to his many recordings with Stew and The Negro Ensemble, Stew recently composed -- to his daughter's delight -- a song for "SpongeBob SquarePants."

In addition to her work with Stew and The Negro Problem, Ms. Rodewald co-wrote, with Stew, the screenplay "We Can See Today" for the 2005 Sundance Screenwriters Lab, followed by a project for the Sundance Theatre Lab, as well. She also composed music for Karen Kandel's "Portraits: Night and Day."

Annie Dorsen is the author and director of "Democracy in America." Other recent projects include "Antigone Arkhe," "The Crazy Girl," "Somewhere Someplace Else," the American premiere of "Belgrade Trilogy," and "The Blue Bird" at Williamstown Theater Festival.

PASSING STRANGE will perform Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8pm; Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm; and Sundays at 3pm at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on Broadway. Tickets are priced $111.50 - $66.50 - $36.50 - $26.50, and are available through Tele-charge at www.TeleCharge.com, or by calling 212-239-6200.

For additional information on PASSING STRANGE, visit www.PassingStrangeOnBroadway.com.