Director: Jerry Zaks
Operator: David Franco
Writer: Peter Wortmann and Bob Conte
Producer: Les Alexander, Andrea Baynes and Jonathan Mitchell
Roles: Alessandro Nivola (Leonard Chess), David
Oyelowo (Muddy Waters), Chi McBride (Willie
Dixon), Jon Abrahams (Phil Chess), Megalyn
Echikunwoke (Ivy Mills), Robert Randoplh (Bo
Diddley), Marika Dominczyk (Revetta Chess),
Miko Defoor (Little Walter), Keb’ Mo’ (Jimmy
Rogers), T.J. Hassan (Lonnie Johnson), Ian
Leson (Alan Freed)
Directed by multiple Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks, Who Do
You Love begins with Leonard and Phil Chess, two immigrant
brothers running a Chicago junkyard in the forties. In his off
hours, Leonard is drawn to the Chicago nightclub scene,
where blues musicians from further south are showing off their
stuff. Smitten with the music, Leonard convinces Phil to invest
their savings and open their own club. From there, it is only
a small jump to putting artists like Muddy Waters on record.
And the list grew. Leonard Chess's ear for musicianship led
him to Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Little Walter and Howlin'
Wolf. And it was both his ears and his eyes that guided him
to Etta James; Who Do You Love faces the long-standing
rumours about their affair head on.
Alessandro Nivola plays Leonard Chess as a complicated
and driven man. He was hard on both his family and
his musicians and known for exacting harsh terms in the
contracts he signed with artists.
Who Do You Love is suffused with a real love for some of
America's greatest music, which can be felt both in Zaks's
direction and in the performances.