Nona Hendryx And Lynn Nottage Partner On New Labelle Rock Opera Celebrating The Iconic Group’s Legacy
A new rock opera celebrating the groundbreaking legacy of the iconic vocal group Labelle is officially in development, with founding member Nona Hendryx teaming up with Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Lynn Nottage to bring the story to the stage. The project, simply titled Labelle, aims to chronicle the group’s revolutionary journey and enduring cultural impact through a bold, music-driven theatrical experience.
Labelle emerged from the early-1960s doo-wop scene as Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, a quartet originally made up of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash, and Cindy Birdsong. After Birdsong’s departure in 1967, the remaining trio reinvented themselves in the early 1970s — shedding their polished pop image in favor of a genre-defying fusion of rock, funk, soul, and glam. Rebranded as Labelle, they embraced futuristic fashion, fearless musical experimentation, and a message of artistic liberation that stood in stark contrast to the industry norms of the time.
Their transformation led to historic breakthroughs. Labelle became the first Black vocal group to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone and scored a global smash with the 1974 chart-topping hit “Lady Marmalade.” More importantly, they redefined what Black women could look and sound like in popular music, paving the way for generations of artists to embrace boundary-pushing creativity and unapologetic self-expression.
The upcoming rock opera intends to capture this full arc — from the group’s early beginnings to their meteoric rise as cultural disruptors — spotlighting not just the music but the personal and societal challenges they navigated along the way. Hendryx has described the collaboration with Nottage as a creative alignment years in the making, rooted in a shared desire to tell the story of women who refused to be constrained by expectations or limitations.
The production is being developed by Nightbird Music, with Nathan Gehan and Jamison Scott of ShowTown Productions attached as executive producers. While casting details, a production timeline, and venue plans have not yet been announced, the project is moving forward in its early development phase.
Labelle promises to be more than a nostalgic tribute — it aims to be a vibrant theatrical experience that celebrates artistic courage, sisterhood, and the enduring power of music as a tool for transformation. As the project takes shape, it stands poised to introduce new audiences to the groundbreaking legacy of a group that forever changed the sound — and the style — of American music.
— REAVES