Fela

one of the best plays i have seen. i missed it on broadway but glad i got to see it here in atlanta. definately recommend to everyone.

A Captivating and riveting musical show with so many levels of excitement!! The energy of this show tele-ported my friends and i back to our beloved city of Lagos , and we enjoyed every minute of it !!!!!

The show was simply amazing!! The story line was deep and the performers great!!

I was VERY disappointed that the show started an HOUR late. They did not open the doors to go into the theatre until 8pm which was the written start time. I was very upset and would have left had I not already paid for my tickets which definitely set a negative tone for the rest of the show because the whole rest of the night I was watching my watch. This may have been ok if it was a weekend, but this was a tues night and I had to get up earlier for work the next day. I had to leave earlier because the show was still going on after 1130pm. I thought this was very inconsiderate especially when people have to work the next day or are paying babysitters. The first part of the musical had excellent dancing and music but again it was hard to enjoy when you are worried about getting home too late :(

Upon arrival around 8:15 people were standing outside in the drizzling rain and in the lobby area because the doors had not opened. We waited an additional 30 minutes to enter and the play started at 9:00 pm instead of 8:00 pm!!!!!!! Could NOT hear the musical in the balcony. Absolutely, no speakers were on so was very, very hard to follow and understand his story. Magnificent dancing and would have thoroughly enjoyed, if at a different location!!!

With all the opening night technical delay that could ruin a lessor production's review, FELA! was still amazing. The lead actor was phenomenal, so was the music and dance. The story telling was great, the audience was wonderful to watch and the interactive nature of the show made it an EVENT!

This show was great if you are familiar with Fela and his work or not! Prior I heard great reviews and this show did not let down. The house was packed an everyone seemed to really enjoy it. This took me back to my childhood when I was 3 and my dad would play Fela's music on vinyl. This sho did not disappoint. Great show, Must go!

Get ready for an engaging, interactive lesson on love, fighting for what you believe and connecting globally through music.

Fela~one of the best stage performances I've seen in years. The music, the dance, and the characters/actors tell an extraordinarily somber biographical story with a sense of comedy, amazing movement and drama! We loved the performance!

This musical was excellent. My god-brother Sahr plays FELA. It felt so good to see how far he has come. I enjoyed the dancing, singing, and learned alot about a culture that I was unfamiliar with.

This play was put together very well. The singing and dancing was excellent.

The show was awesome. The ensemble and cast characters told the story of Fela Kuti with much style and class. I was captivated throughout the performance. Bravo!

Despite the late start and standing outside with no information, the wait was worth the wait! My daughter and I had a wonderful time. We are still talking about it and letting others know about what they missed and will miss if they dont get out and go see for themselves.

Fela is a must experience for any and every world music lover! The show was visually explosive the music was recognizable but not as prominent as I would have thought...well I should say I kinda expected a Fela concert yet it wasn't. It was storytelling fused with the a musical backdrop that grounded the story for us all. I absolutely loved the angelic voice of his Mother that sista was bad meaning excellent. Block out 3 hours of your evening and enjoy!

The show in Atlanta started one hour late. Guests were left standing in the foyer of the civic center until 8:06pm with no explanation of what was going on AND no apology of any sort! Once the doors finally opened, the show started at 9pm. Thank goodness the show was amazing, otherwise the evening would have been a disaster. I've never been to a show or concert that has started this late AND on opening night. I frequent the theatre and find this unacceptable. Kudos to the cast - they were amazing!

Everyone was standing inside the door until 7:30. Then they took our tickets and let us in the lobby. We did not get to get inside the theater until 8:15. The musical did not start until around 9pm! Intermission was at 10:30. We left. The stage was the same the whole time. The main character just narrated a story and the dancers danced. Great story but presentation was repetitious.

I grew up listening to Fela and the play put some of his music into context for me that made me understand his importance not only in Nigeria but worldwide. I greatly enjoyed myself.

It was the best production I have ever seen. Bar NONE. Questlove said it best: "The only acceptable excuses for not seeing this show are that you are dead, or you have not been born yet."

This show was very entertaining, the cast was engaging, and they brought to life the trials, triumphs, and human inter-personal battle of Fela Kuti. I really didn't know much about him but I thought the play captured his life and his work well. It's really more of a musical experience with a deep social commentary on post-colonial Nigeria. I don't recommend this for kids unless you want them to enjoy the music and dancing. Not sure they would get the political undertones. Exciting to watch and the cast is phenomenal!

This show had it all...energy, education, entertainment, amazing music and the dancing was off the hook! This is definitely not one to miss if you have the opportunity. I'm only sorry I went to the last night, because I would have seen it at least twice!

Excellent show, a must see the afro-cuban drum beats are amazing!!!

Genius. Very well done. Really authentic. Catch this show in any city that you can.

I truly enjoyed the choreography, the dancers and the story itself about FELA, amazing and unforgettable. Glad I took the time

Act 1 started with great energy and for those familiar with Fela's history, it touched briefly on his influences without it dragging on at all. Act 2 was excellent with the accurate demonstration of The Orishas.

Great !! A must see. True to actual events. Funmilayo would be proud!

I've listened to Fela Kuti for the past 20 years. Fela's spirit is seen in Sahr Ngaujah throughout the show. His dancers/wives take you to the Shrine with their random dancing. The music....the band??? Top notch in catching the rhythmic flow of Afrobeat. Antibalas is one of the few bands I've heard that can replicate Fela's music (other than his son Seun), and their arrangement/composition was on point. The show is a mix of a concert, a musical, and a Broadway play. Sahr's interaction with the audience had me forgetting it was actually something off Broadway. Even the little nuances within the show were pure Fela. Anyone who has seen him live or on video should know how he leads his band. The little head nods, finger shakes, and long stares were all present. The Sax player doing Fela's licks was TIGHT!!!! He was killing it! The historical references, many of the dances....good history lessons. Hip-hop dance is recycled from the Motherland and some of the same corrupt corporations now have been doing their dirt since Fela's early days. He is a soul missed and I hope that those going without prior exposure to the man will be inspired to look further into his music AND life.

The level of energy in this show is amazing. The skill, history and talent displayed was awesome. You'll love this show (but don't take children, there's a tiny bit of profanity).

I went in with no expectations but have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. The combination of humor, creativity and dance was extremely entertaining. The band was clearly talented and they switched up the styles of music, which kept it fresh. I didn't know that some of the dance moves exhibited would or could be so...mesmerizing (if you will). It really was 2 hours fairly well spent!

from opening to ending.....was just great....get up and shout great!

FELA! is a fun, energetic, great musical. The cast is exceptionally talented both vocally, musically, and in dance. I enjoyed the overall production, but it should have been staged in a smaller venue. Due to the large size of the venue, it was hard to really feel a part of the production during the interactive portions. In addition, the venue was only half full. This would have easily sold out the fox every or Woodruff every single night. Overall, I had a great time, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

The musical was both entertaining and informative. It made you laugh, think, dance and cry.

Absolutely wonderful display of FELA's life. Exciting and emotional. I was blessed to have a seat next to a wonderful Nigerian woman who helped me to understand some of the language and provided great additional details about this man.

Highly entertaining! Could not grasp it all with just 2 eyes. Well executed high quality performance.

I would recommend going to see this play. It was entertaining while give you a real look into the history and life of Fela.

This musical was great. After intermission, it picked up and all of the cast poured their heart into their performance. I can still remember the faces of some of them and their performance and dances. I can't wait to see this musical again. Sahr, Sandra and some of the others are unforgettable!!! LOVED IT!!!

We loved the musical, the clarity of the voices and the audience involvement in the production. Simply breathtaking!!!

Interactive, educational, and inspiring! Definitely a winner!

2 hours of pure entertainment...i got my money's worth...it was recommended to me by some friends in NYC

Super Cool!!! if you havent seen this show, you should!!!!!

great show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so ready for it to conclude. Definitely not worth the amount I paid.

Heart pumping, hip moving, awe inspiring music with a true glimpse into the life of Fela Kuti. I loved it.

They're truly no words to adequately describe the power displayed both by the actors and musicians of the musical Fela . The energy during the dance numbers were at peak levels. The music was piercing, truly an emotional ride with few rivals with flawless execution. The acting by all left nothing to be desired, a wonderful portrayal of Mr. Fela Kuti . My only wish would be to see it again.... Much Love to every cast member and thank you so much for such a memorable evening. It was theater the way it's supposed to be. AWESOMELY ENTERTAINING!!!!

Very well done production. I knew bits and pieces about the artist and his life but the production was extremely educational as well as entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening. I viewed it from the balcony and thought that I had the most expensive/best seat in the house.

I sat too far away to fully enjoy the show. The main character spoke a lot with an accent and it was difficult to understand most of what he was saying.

The dancing, music, and audience participation was awesome. I felt so a part of the entire event.

Great Production. The play was excellent. The dancing, the instrumental and vocal music was spectacular.

Excellent musical. Enjoyed every moment of it. Would like to go see it again! Didnt care for the venue at all . Seats were extremely tight

Great energy, fast pace, filled with excitement. Would have enjoyed better description to the ethnical references (historical figures, geographic notations, and traditional phrases).

I was impressed and would pay to see the show again!

There are many optimal reasons to view FELA: the beautiful nature of the dancers, the set, and the overall energy the permeates the theatre. However, there are some areas to consider when viewing FELA: -his (FELA, the man) primary function of his music was to expose the political corruption of his county. That means: the songs do not follow traditional Broadway format or concept. EVERY SONG is speaking about the politics of Nigeria. No worries, there will be lots of 'Afro beat' music to enjoy-the musicians are amazing. It does however mean that there are times the words/translation of them may be difficult to follow for some. -if you are not familiar with the political climate of Nigeria, you may be lost at times with the accents, or the subject matter. That doesn't mean the general intelligent person would not understand the plight of the people, or cannot feel the pain or dismay of injustice, it just means that you will HAVE to implore your thinking mind while coming to view a play vs it just being about enjoying the music, set, and overall acting and singing.

This is not your run-of-the-mill broadway musical. The music and dancing are exceptionally and dynamically performed by a superbly talented cast of actors, dancers and musicians. Better check to see if you are still breathing if you can sit/stand through this show without wanting to in on the action. There is also a measure of socially significant content without dragging the otherwise exciting musical and visual content into a prolonged lull.

The costumes, music and dancing were incredible. It was a hard story to watch at times, but great to be introduced to the originator of Afro Beat. Everybody say Yea Yea!

Fela was truly an entertaining story. Not only was the music and singing great, the dancing kept you captivated.

I attended the 10/15/11 show and loved every minute of it! Fela met all of my expectations. I loved that it was such an interactive show and that the Orishas were depicted accurately throughout the production. I wasn't sure about the Civic Center as a venue for this production but it was actually very good. As a child, my mother took me to many plays, musicals, etc. like this that were outside of the realm of "appropriate for children" and thus I was exposed to cultural education that is vital for well rounded development. I took my niece and nephew and they loved it. It is very important to expose our children to culture and have conversations with them either before or after about what they saw. Do I think Fela is appropriate for children? Yes, as long as the parents are willing and able to engage their children in educational dialogue. The cast was true to who Fela was as a person and an artist and for those who may have been "shocked", it's always good to educate yourselves on something before you jump in feet first.

Absolutely FABULOUS production! The vibrant music, colors, ensemble, and staging were all truly amazing. The production was carried effortless by the lead playing Fela. It drew you in from the very beginning whether you knew the history of Fela before you arrived or if you were schooled along the way during the show. I have been eagerly waiting to see the production myself, but took my father along who was skeptical at best. Needless to say he's been singing the songs and trying to do the dances since the house lights went up. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to.

It was money well spent...I enjoyed the whole show

Excellent show, was a great birthday gift, made me want to dance

My husband educated me about Fela Kuti and his influence in politico-entertainment during his time. To see a synopsis of his life in vibrant colors, dancing, and storytelling was such a treat. I am glad I was able to see Fela! the musical!

I am glad I did not bring my children as there was far too much obscene language. The music was great. The set was phenomenal. The degree of artistry was some of the best I have seen in some time. However, I would have been inclined to rate it higher if it were not for the language.

What an amazing show! It had a multimedia format and certain parts were interactive. Those dancers (male and female) were phenomenal. The guy playing Fela was awesome. Plus (this may be a little cheesy), I LOVED the colors! *shrug* The singing, dance, and music were all totally on point and the show totally lived up to the hype.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Fela at the Atlanta Civic Center. The production was fabulous. It was a lively, interactive and educational experience with top shelf talent and timeless music. I'd recommend that EVERYONE see Fela!

We thoroughly enjoyed Fela! After missing the opportunity to see the play in New York, we were lucky to see it in Atlanta. The music was sensational and the dancing was fantastic. Events were highlighted in a way that even someone who did not know details of Fela's life was able to understand and appreciate his impact. The audience participation made us feel part of the show. We highly recommend this play.

I was amazed at the energy, talent and costumes in this show. The music was outstanding, the actors and actresses very talented and the costumes were simply amazing.

I have not seen a great musical that moved me like this since the Lion King. The music, dance moves and story line were superb! I highly recommend Fela to the lovers of art-music & dance. This was such an energizing and enlightening experience for me.

I took my daughter to NY for her graduation present and we saw FELA there for the first time. When we heard it was going to be in Atlanta (which is close to our hometown) we jumped on the computer to order the tickets right away. We took a party of 9 people to the show and there were mixed reviews. Everyone enjoyed the show but several of them said that it was kinda hard to follow at times. My daughter and I loved it (again) and would probably go to see it again. The dancing is awesome and the characters are spicy. Fela is incrediably talented and does a very good job of maintaining the attention of the audience. Although there were some technical difficulties that caused the play to start an hour later, the audience still gave the performance a standing ovation. I would just suggest that if there is going to be a delay that the audience is told something while we wait instead of us having to speculate what was going on. Overall, it was a spectacular performance and I wish the cast continued success with the production!!!

This production was almost as exciting as the original Broadway production. With respect to the cast, this is the closest to a true Broadway experience that I have ever seen. This is mostly due to Sahr Ngaujah being in the touring company. I was on the fence about going until I saw that he would be part of the company for the US tour. It's probably my OCD-ness but the rickety ladder and steps were a distraction anytime someone was on them.

Engaging. Briliant perormances by the entire cast.

Fantastic! True to the Fela spirit. Well portrayed.

Shocked that the production started over 1 hour late at the Atlanta civic center. It was disgraceful! A few staff were not as pleasant as one might expect at such an astoundingly gala occasion. And there was a long line of people outdoors, in the cold drizzling rain, waiting to get in an hr. prior to the start of the program. After, finally, being seated, stage crew were cleaning the set - leisurely, as though, the audience was not present and waiting, patiently, for the show to start. The production had a screen that could not be viewed by audience sitting in the upper level sections - which was idiotic and a total waste of our money. Our imaginations had to fill in the blanks because we couldn't see the full screen. Why sell seats in a section where people cannot see most of the screen? Ridiculous. The audio was messed up and sound could not be heard well, some of the time. The lead actor's accent was authentically "thick" and the technical problems didn't help understanding what was being said. The intermission was too long - at least 1/2 hr. I fell asleep during the scene when Fela was seeking his mother's spiritual direction because of the lateness of the show. I noticed others were groggy, too. All that being said FELA was PHENOMENAL. Although, at one point I wanted my money back because of the above-cited technical issues. FYI - I actually met Fela in Lagos Nigeria (he came to the door in his underwear) and I saw his show at the National Theatre. Fela the Musical was genius! It told many of the highlights of Fela's life. I was surprised to learn and happy to that his activism was greatly influenced by African American literature and the Black Power Movement. Loved the compliment he gave African American women. A great line. Fela was a very colorful, powerful, charismatic person and the production reflected his life very well. The singing, acting, dancing and music was explosive, gloriously exhaustive and wonderful. A bit surprised that some of the musicians were white and Asian, in the play. That made it seem less authentic because his band members were all black Africans. Though they were talented, that was a stupid flaw, especially, to an Atlanta audience, which is overwhelmingly, African/American. I'm not prejudice but critiquing it honestly. Nevertheless, despite my few objections, it was an AMAZING production for which I am soooooo honored to have seen. I appreciate all the talent and effort put into making it happen for the enjoyment of audiences worldwide. Besides the actual performance of the real Fela and his dancers, the musical FELA was a top-notch production, in every regard! Loved it and highly recommend music lovers around the world to go see it whenever opportunity presents. Marvelous entertainment! I hope to see it again in another City - Chicago! And, I can't wait to share it with my daughter, who is excited about seeing it too! Thanks to everyone involved in making the production a reality and bringing to life - Fela's role in influencing the politics of a corrupt, greedy and oppressive regime. His music contributed to positive influences and unity of Nigeria. He faced his critics and attackers with music that was more powerful than their brute force. Yea-yea! I applaud Fela's life and the musical production that featured it. Thank you!!!

Excellent show even if you are unfamiliar with the work of fela. The dancers, singers and the band were all oustanding.

I had a great time it was new and exiting different I would recogmend all my friends to go see it

Buy these tickets immediately. Wont regret it. Ever.

This show is not for children. It is not for individuals who do not know their world history and the happenings that have taken place in Nigeria or other parts of Africa. To enjoy this show, one must have a sense of humor, some political knowledge, and an undying love of music! For those few individuals, you will laugh, cry, dance, and leave looking at life with a different perspective!! :-)

One word best describes the preformance OUTSTANDING!!!!!

The performance of Fela! was exceptional. The singing, dancing and the actors were superb.

Great performance and very entertaining. Everyone must see this show

Magical and exquisite! I really enjoyed the production and look forward to many more!

Unforgettable! Lots of humor...get ground seats as there are alot of audience interaction!

Great show! A little long.... 3 hours. Performers.....incredible.

Truly impressed by life of Fela. Truly enjoyed song, dance & history.

FELA! IS AWESOME!!! Definitely a must see. It is fun, interactive, emotional, stimulating and inspiring. You will dance, sing, cry, gasp, laugh. I wish the Atlanta Civic Center was a better venue for this style of production, but the dancing and instrumentation were just awesome! I would love to see it again.

My friend and I went on a weeknight and we sat four rows back so we had really good seats. Fela was very entertaining. I loved the music and dance. The actors were great. Definitely a must see.

My family and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing FELA! It was inspiring, motivating and hypnotic. The women dancers were simply out of this world. My husband said they moved so fast, it seemed like they were floating on air. FELA's character was versatile, energetic and fun. Would definitely see it again.

This show was one of the best shows I have ever seen! The choreography and the music makes this show wonderful and its just a great story about a musical genius and a revolutionary!!!! I encourage everyone to see this show!!!!

This is a must see event. The cast and the production team were excellent. Felt like I was at the Shrine with Fela....for Real.

Truly amazing!! I knew the show was going to be great but still I was so not prepared for the greatness of Fela! Something that MUST be seen by everyone!

The first half, which is what I saw, was good. However, this is the first show I've ever attended that the show was scheduled to begin at 8:00 and at 8:00 the actors were on stage practicing and the audience was not allowed in until 8:10 and therefore the show began at 8:45. The intermission was still going on at 10:25 and my sister and I not familiar with the train system were afraid to be in the area too late and miss our train back to our hotel. So, we missed the second half, which was probably good. However, that was my first and last time to the Atlanta Civic Center. I hope the actors have it better together as they travel around the country with this performance. My sister and I are sorry we missed it while in New York. I'm sure it had to be better time wise. This was most disgusting.

I loved the show. It is worth every penny. I do wish that it had played at the Fox Theater or Gwinnett Arena. The overall ambiance would have been maximized. The dancing and the set would have looked better in that setting. The Atlanta Civic Center is a decent venue but the service, organization, security, and tardiness of show start did take away from my experience. As a concert or event goer, I am paying for an overall experience. the civic center is not attractive and the staff could be improved. Not on a personal level but more people are needed, smiling helpful, energetic faces, and knowledgeable.

A must see production; especially for individuals interested in African (Nigerian) culture & politics!

I suprised my wife with tickets to this show. From the opening act, I knew we'd be in store for a magnificent performance. I was mesmorized by the music, dance and energy. We had a fantastic time. The following day, I googled FELA and watched his early performances on youtube and haven't been able to stop talking about it since!!

Choreography & music were amazing. The dancing puts you in a trance.... Go see it.

Great show! entertaining yet educational. Very interactive and engaging. I saw it with my 17 year old daughter who thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a show I would like to see again.

Opening night was crazy, but we made it inside the civic center filled with energy.The musical was phenominal.

Actors, dancers and music was amazing. Considering going to see it again.

This was my first time to the Civic Center. The honeymoon mood was over as we walked to the CLOSED doors of the CIvic Center at 8:05 PM and experienced a large crowd of people standing outside with their tickets to see the show. For 20 to 30 minutes we stood outside without one word from the hosting staff or the police monitoring the Center. Well, the show started at 9PM and ended at 11:30PM on a school light.

GREAT MUSIC AND , DANCING, AND THE LEAD ACTOR SAHAR NGAUJAH WAS AMAZING

Fela was absolutely amazing! It was the most exciting, exhilarating show I have seen all year. It is a must see for everyone! Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! I will see it again with out hesitation! AMAZING!

Amazing, Awesome, Spectacular, the energy filled the room!!!!!!!!!

A must see!!! This performance will motivate and inspire you!