April Matthis to Replace Uzo Aduba in World Premiere of Toni Stone

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that Obie Award winner April Matthis (Gatz, Fairview) will now play the title role of Lydia Diamond's new play Toni Stone. She will replace the previously announced Uzo Aduba, who has departed the production for scheduling reasons. Directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon, Toni Stone will run May 23-August 11 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, with opening night set for June 20.

Diamond's play is described as follows: "Toni Stone is an encyclopedia of baseball stats. She's got a great arm. And she doesn't understand why she can't play with the boys. Stone knocks it out of the park as the first woman to go pro in the Negro Leagues. Featuring
a bullpen of players crossing age, race and gender to portray all supporting roles, Toni Stone is a vibrant new play about staying in the game, playing hard, playing smart, and playing your own way."

Joining Matthis is Eric Berryman, Harvy Blanks, Phillip James Brannon, Daniel J. Bryant, Jonathan Burke, Toney Goins, Kenn E. Head, and Ezra Knight. The creative team will include Camille A. Brown (choreography), Riccardo Hernandez (sets), Allen Lee Hughes
(lights), Dede Ayite (costumes), and Daniel Baker & Aaron Meicht (original music & sound design).