by August Wilson
January 13- February 20, 2016
It’s 1927 in Chicago, and the fiery Blues legend Gertrude “Ma” Rainey is ready to record her signature songs. Inside the cramped studio, she squares off against a battling quartet of musicians and a tight-fisted, white producer. This gripping play with music highlights a time in American history when even the most renowned black singer of her day had to fight against racism for the respect she deserved. In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the Jazz Age is in full swing and it’s a moment as full of possibility as it is risk for those striving to achieve the American side of being African American.
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"WBTT has made a commitment to produce every play by this Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright. Ma Rainey is particularly interesting because Wilson introduced blues music to help illuminate the complexity of the characters who face overwhelming obstacles in the burgeoning music industry. " -Nate Jacobs |
Nate's Notes
| VIDEO: See excerpts from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom! |
CAST AND CREATIVE
TARRA CONNER JONES (Ma Rainey)
EMERALD ROSE SULLIVAN (Dussie Mae)
