About the Show

A young man’s future is upended by a mysterious singer in Michael Thurber & Saheem Ali's Afro-jazz musical.

When Nadira, a mysterious singer with a divine aura, arrives at Moto Moto, a steamy Afro-jazz club in Mombasa, Kenya, she captivates everyone, including Omari, a young man recently returned from studying in America. As Omari prepares to follow his family's political legacy and marry his fiancée, Nadira's presence challenges his path, leading him to question his destiny.

Inspired by the myth of Marimba, the goddess who created beautiful songs from her heartbreak, Goddess is a rousing tale of romance, the supernatural, and the quest towards one's truest self. This new musical features music and lyrics by Michael Thurber, a book by Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director at the Public Theater, Saheem Ali, additional book material by James Ijames, choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie, and is directed by Saheem Ali.

The cast includes Amber Iman as Nadira, Austin Scott as Omari, Nick Rashad Burroughs as Ahmed, Arica Jackson as Rashida, J Paul Nicholas as Hassan, Melessie Clark as Mosi, Destinee Rea as Cheche, Awa Sal Secka as Zawadi, Teshomech Olenja as Tisa, Reggie D. White as Balozi, and ensemble members Isio-Maya Nuwere, Quiantae Thomas, and Wade Watson.

Critic Reviews (11)

"Too much rewriting has left it lumpy; the main characters often disappear for long stretches, and the first act curtain confusingly highlights a subsidiary one."
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"Nonetheless, this fantastic ensemble will have audiences humming notes of 'Mombasa, Mombasa' all the way home."
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"3/5 Stars. The show may be imperfect, but the woman at its center is certainly worthy of worship."
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"If you need someone to sing like a deity, you could do a lot worse than Amber Iman, whose voice can traverse several states of matter in quick succession"
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"It is primarily when Ms. Iman unleashes the power of her lustrous voice that she brings the musical to intoxicating, even heavenly heights."
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"It’s impossible to have a bad time at Goddess. Like a so-so night out at the club, you’ll have fun, but you probably won’t remember much about it a year from now."
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"Goddess has cycled through many writers' hands, and I fear it shows."
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Exciting new musical which is a mix of African mythology and modern politics.
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Cast and creative team