"A master of the American vernacular" as described by the
Library of Congress, Vernel Bagneris wrote, directed and starred in the
original Off-Broadway as well as the recent Broadway production of One Mo’
Time, its critically acclaimed sequel Further Mo’, and Staggerlee,
with music by Allen Toussaint and starring the legendary Ruth Brown.
With a run of over three and a half years at the Village Gate in New York, One Mo’ Time is listed as one of the “Top Ten Longest Running Shows” in Off-Broadway history. In addition to branching out into seven touring companies, the show had long runs in Australia and London’s West End. Honored with a Royal Command performance for Queen Elizabeth, the show was also nominated for several Olivier awards as well as a Grammy nomination for its cast album.
Mr. Bagneris wrote and starred in Jelly Roll!, conjuring the jazz genius
in a riveting recreation of Jelly Roll Morton’s words and music. Mr. Bagneris
received an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Lucille Lortel
Award as author and performer, as well as a Drama Desk nomination. He also
starred on Broadway in the original cast of Cy Coleman’s daring musical The
Life. Summer of ‘04, Vernel co-starred with Diahann Carroll in a revival of
the Broadway musical Bubbling Brown Sugar.
On film, Mr. Bagneris has appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s Down By Law and had
a starring role in Herbert Ross’ Pennies From Heaven with Steve Martin
and Bernadette Peters. For PBS American Playhouse, he performed in A
Marriage: Georgia O’Keefe and Alfred Steiglitz with Jane Alexander and
Christopher Plummer. More recently, he choreographed Taylor Hackford’s
critically acclaimed film, Ray, the sensational biopic on Ray Charles,
starring Jamie Fox.
On PRI (Public Radio International), Mr. Bagneris continues to serve as narrator
and performer with the Riverwalk Jazz program. where he has brought to
life the work and memories of several dozen early jazz pioneers, including Jelly
Roll Morton, King Oliver, Danny Barker, Jabbo Smith, Clarence Williams, Louis
Armstrong and Bunk Johnson.
Vernel Bagneris is featured in over a dozen Riverwalk programs.
