Janine LaManna, a Broadway star and Drama Desk Award nominee, will play the role of lead. Redd, a Brookhaven native who previously directed “Million Dollar Quartet” for an extended run at New Stage, brings Broadway and Off Broadway chops. The musical loosely adapts the comedy best-sellers of Browne, THE Sweet Potato Queen. She created a worldwide phenomenon with her message about the power of play and helped to create Sweet Potato Queen Wannabes. Browne’s “royal” roots go back to Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade in Jackson (now Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade). There, she and a few gal friends referred to themselves as queens for entertainment and rose to fame. The New Stage Theatre’s “Sweet Potato Queens,” which opens Wednesday, runs through March 24, 2010. The musical is a collaboration between Sharon Vaughn (lyrics), Rupert Holmes, Melissa Manchester (music), and Rupert Holmes (book). It features Broadway songs and pop music. “Jill’s family is horrified that they set her up in a trailer park,” LaManna chuckles, “but as Rupert Holmes (book) and Sharon Vaughn (lyrics) are the writing team behind the musical. Redd reached out for Browne’s part, hoping for the right balance of showbiz, heart, and humor. “I read it and listened to it and I answered, ‘Yes. Yes. Yes!'” LaManna says. “Rupert is such an prolific writer, Melissa Manchester wrote such beautiful music… It’s really fun and it’s catchy, entertaining, and poignant. This is everything you would want in a musical. I am always looking for female-driven stories. They are so rare and far between,” she said. Browne’s inspiring story and rise to fame as a motivational speaker and author was a great example of this. “I believe we forget as adults that we are allowed to play. Jill has granted us permission to do so. It’s something I kind of like. … I get her, quite a bit.” The first production of Sweet Potato Queens licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide is Jackson. The musical was created and workshopped in Houston, Texas by TUTS Underground. It had its world premiere in 2016 there. Redd states that the musical is “very theatrical… It’s no movie.” It is not cinematic. It’s ‘A Show. ‘” He says it’s “like, ‘The Jill Conner Browne Show.'” It’s a fantasy fever dream. …imagining her life as an opera, as a huge Vegas spectacle.” Redd joined the cast last summer and read three versions of the musical. He has also been in constant contact with the writers to help develop the musical and target a Jackson audience. Redd says, “They’ve been so willing to it.” Redd is a “huge Holmes fan”. He is not only famous for his pina colada song, “Escape”, but he also wrote the “Mystery of Edmund Drood,” that won five Tony Awards. And he grew up listening and enjoying the Grammy Award-winning Manchester music. “I try not to be, like a total fanboy about it. Redd states that it’s a wonderful score. “I am very particular about writing music, especially musical theatre for a Southern story. “She gets the tone and the flavor right.” Manchester was first introduced to Browne by a Los Angeles Times story years ago. Manchester says that Manchester was able to see the music in Browne’s words as she read them. She also plans to return to Jackson for the opening of the musical and the parade weekend. “I went to the parade many years ago just to see what it was. It was a mind-blowing experience. Redd laughs when Browne stopped by to meet the cast. “She’s hilarious… she did a great 45-minute set there. It was great to see her charisma. He says, “We’re lucky Janine can embody all those things,” and he smirks at his star. LaManna states, “I might not have enough time to with her or with this project to really get her right-on.” She says she is shy at 7 inches. Browne stands 6 feet. “But what I lack is height, I make up in lipstick, hair length, and cosmetics. It is a difficult task but I must accept it. She laughs and gives a rimshot, “because if I try to do a perfect imitation of Jill, it’s going to fail.” The musical uses Jill as the narrator to take us back in time as a young mother, and tell her story. Redd states that the musical was born out of a genuine sense of fun, play, and that it unlocks that part of everyone that wants to perform, show off, be noticed, and be acknowledged. LaManna tells Redd that there are many layers to the casserole you make on stage. His Mississippi roots are crucial to the success of bringing it home. “Sweet Potato Queens” is a musical about Jackson. It will be performed at New Stage Theatre from March 13-24. Tickets are $35 with discounts for students, seniors and groups, at the theater box office at 1100 Carlisle St., at www.newstagetheatre.com and 601-948-3531.