EDITOR'S NOTE: This story concludes a series exploring the contributions of local Black poets, singers and other artists during Black History Month.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When Gabe Moses was hired to direct "Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical," he knew he wanted to pay homage to Waller's legacy while giving the show a contemporary twist.
To prepare, he read books about Thomas "Fats" Waller's life and listened to his music, plus other tunes and dances from that era.
"I would say nine to ten months after I knew I was directing this production, ideas, visuals and images were swirling through my head," Moses said in an interview a week before the show began.
The homage to Waller runs through March 10at the historic Civic Theatre of Allentown.
"To be able to come to the rehearsal room to bring all those ideas and those images and those visuals to life with five performers, you know, it's really been such a great fun time."Director Gabe Moses
"We've been actively in rehearsal for this show for about a month and a half now, but I've really been working on this show for, you know, almost a year because it's all been in my head," Moses said.
"And then to be able to come to the rehearsal room to bring all those ideas and those images and those visuals to life with five performers, you know, it's really been such a great fun time."
A triple threat
"Ain't Misbehavin'" is Moses's first time directing a musical.
He said that while he held formal auditions for the project, he had a dream cast in mind.
"It's a very complicated show because of all the music. Every single performer had to be somewhat of a triple threat — they all sing, they all dance, and there's a level of acting through every song as well."Director Gabe Moses
"We did have an audition process, but it was kind of one of those things where there's only five performers in the show," he said.
"So when you're putting on a show that's not as well known like 'Ain't Misbehavin'' in the Lehigh Valley, where it isn't done too often, I had to think about who could do it ahead of time.
"It's a very complicated show because of all the music. Every single performer had to be somewhat of a triple threat — they all sing, they all dance, and there's a level of acting through every song as well."
The cast are local actors Deborah D'Haiti, Andrew Stewart, Keith M. Miller Sr., Veronica Cummings and Juanita Renay Gray.
An 'old soul'
An alum of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts and DeSales University, Moses, an actor, was asked to direct "Ain't Misbehavin'," by Williams Sanders, artistic director at the Civic Theatre.
In 2022, the two forged a professional relationship after Sanders saw Moses' production of "Blood at the Root" at Charter Arts High School.
The performance, based on Dominique Morisseau's 2014 play and evolved from David Margolick's "Strange Fruit," talks about the lynchings of Black Americans in the South.
That same year, Sanders tapped Moses to direct a rendition of "Trouble of Mind," a play by Alice Childress that shines light on the inner life of a Black actress struggling with her career.
"When I'm directing it, I picture myself in that time period in the suit, in the bowler hat at the Cotton Club, chilling with my friends, enjoying the jazz music, mingling."Director Gabe Moses
In "Ain't Misbehavin'," Moses explores the Harlem Renaissance — a time period when Black artists, writers and musicians such as Waller thrived.
Waller performed on the same stage as Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday at New York City's Cotton Club (a venue known as a whites-only establishment) and at the Savoy Ballroom.
Learning about that period was a cathartic experience for the 24-year-old Moses.
"Since I was a kid, I've always had an old soul, so doing this musical is pretty on brand for me, because it's set in the 1920s and '30s.
"When I'm directing it, I picture myself in that time period in the suit, in the bowler hat at the Cotton Club, chilling with my friends, enjoying the jazz music, mingling.
"You kind of have to picture the world, not just as an actor, but as a director, so that you're able to give off that energy when you're trying to get actors to go to those places as well so I do dream about it in that sense."
His No. 1 fan
Moses credits his single mother, Ronelle Moses, for much of his success.
He said she attends most, if not all, of his local productions and isn't afraid to offer feedback — good or bad.
"Growing up, my mom saw that spark in me, and right away, at the age of three years old, she got me involved in performing arts programs, summer academies," Moses said.
"When I say I have a really strong community, it's not just people who support me, but people who actually get me working and keep me working."Director Gabe Moses
"It wasn't forced. I wanted to do those things and she just supported me. I think that's why I'm still doing it, because a lot of people, especially when they're young, when they're forced into doing a sport or a hobby it kind of trails away from them.
"But because I wanted to do this so passionately, she led me in the right directions."
He also credits his peers, and his girlfriend, CaSandra Kay, a fellow artist, for supporting his endeavors.
"She gets it and she gets me, which is great," Moses said. "I'm so blessed to have such a large community of other artists who support me, and want to see me do great things.
"Most of the work that I get acting and directing has been through connections, through professionals that I've worked with in the industry, or friends, directors or teachers that have gotten me jobs.
"I'm able to make a living off of those things. When I say I have a really strong community, it's not just people who support me, but people who actually get me working and keep me working."
A 'give-and-take'
As a young director and actor, Moses said he enjoys learning from performers who are more experienced onstage.
But he also feels like he can bring some of his own knowledge, especially when it comes to showcasing diverse works.
"It's a give-and-take. It's been nice to work with people who are in my age bracket, but a little bit older than me. To also have that community as Black artists as well, to learn from and to [bounce] ideas off of.”Director Gabe Moses
"I think that as an artist, no matter what age you are, if you come to a point where you feel like you haven't learned anything or you can't learn anything anymore, then there's no point in doing it because the fun of this art comes from the learning of it as you go along," he said.
"So although I am the director, I'm constantly seeking ways to learn from, from my actors who are all older than me, and then I understand that they have learned from me as well.
"It's a give-and-take. It's been nice to work with people who are in my age bracket, but a little bit older than me. To also have that community as Black artists as well, to learn from and to [bounce] ideas off of.”
To reach Gabe Moses, follow him on Instagram.
