Entertainment Editor: Carita Miller
On October 17 & 18, 2025, Detroit’s historic Music Hall will host a theatrical event that promises to be as thrilling as it is soulful. One Harlem Night—a production billed as a musical thriller—blends the pulse of jazz with the intrigue of suspense, bringing Harlem’s legendary energy to life in the heart of Detroit.
Produced by Perfection One LLC and Sherry Henderson Entertainment, the show features an all-star cast including Pooch Hall, Lamman Rucker, Darrin Henson, Jamal Woolard, Avery Wilson, Christopher Williams, and Michael Colyar, alongside featured artist Kourtney “NuNu” Thurman and special guests Kimmie Horne and Alexander Zonjic .
Recently, I had the chance to speak with Sherry Gay, the show’s writer and producer, about what makes One Harlem Night such a unique experience. Our conversation revealed how deeply music, history, and human truth are woven into the production.
“Jazz, by nature, has tension, improvisation, and release — which mirrors the rise and fall of suspense in a thriller,” Gay told me. “The music becomes more than background; it’s a character that heightens the drama, reveals inner emotions, and sometimes even misleads the audience.”
That balance between melody and mystery, she explained, creates an immersive experience where music doesn’t just decorate the suspense—it is the suspense.
Gay also emphasized the show’s connection to Harlem itself. “On the mythic side, Harlem has always represented brilliance, resilience, and artistic innovation,” she said. “But it’s also carried hardship. One Harlem Night celebrates the glamour of the Harlem Renaissance while grounding it in the humanity of the people who lived it.”
The production, she added, is “both a love letter and a mirror.”
Though Gay carefully crafted every twist in the narrative, the thrill lies in how audiences react. “There are moments where the narrative shifts in ways they won’t see coming. The real magic is watching the audience lean forward in their seats, surprised, and then piece it together in a new way.”
She noted that while dialogue can reveal facts, music in the show “carries the unspoken—the tension between desire and guilt, the ache of memory, the thrill of delusion.”
Blending suspense and comedy proved to be one of the production’s greatest hurdles. “The challenge was balancing those tones so they serve the same story,” Gay shared. “But with an amazing director like Matthew Johnson Harris, and a cast of both dramatic and comedic actors, we were able to strike that balance.”
Beyond the spectacle, Gay hopes One Harlem Night sparks reflection. “The hook is that what seems like a 1920s jazz tale slowly reveals itself to be an awareness piece, shining light on struggles still very present today,” she said. Spiritually, she hopes the audience leaves with “a sense of both caution and hope—that even in our darkest moments, there’s always the possibility of clarity, healing, and redemption.”
For Gay personally, the production has been transformative. “I realized my work isn’t just about creating entertainment—it can also be a tool for awareness, healing, and dialogue.”
Finally, Gay reflected on bringing One Harlem Night to Music Hall. “There’s a history and prestige in that space that elevates both the artists and the audience,” she said. “I anticipate the Detroit crowd will bring incredible energy—open, engaged, and ready to be moved. My hope is that One Harlem Night captivates them fully, offering an experience they’ll want to come back to again and again.”
With its fusion of music, mystery, and history, One Harlem Night is set to deliver an unforgettable evening at Detroit’s Music Hall.
One Harlem Night
📍 Music Hall Detroit
📅 October 17 & 18, 2025 – 8:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets available now at musichall.org
