MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM IS THE TOPS!
The Huntington Theatre Company’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom gets their standing ovation the old fashioned way… they earned it.
This production is the first of August Wilson’s ten Century Cycle plays, which explores the heritage and African American 20th century experience decade-by decade.
In the play, a quartet of blues musicians gather in a run-down 1920s Chicago studio waiting for legendary blues singer Ma Rainey to arrive to record new sides of her old favorites. Young, hotheaded trumpeter Levee aspires to a better life for himself and sees the emerging form of the blues as his ticket to fame and fortune. When he clashes with veteran musicians Toledo and Cutler and Ma Rainey spars with her white music producers, generational and racial tensions explode in the powerful and moving drama.
The characters, played by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Corey Allen, Jason Bowen, Yvette Freeman (as Ma Rainey,) Thomas Derrah, Will LeBow, Timothy J. Smith, G. Valmont Thomas, Glen Turner and Charles Weldon brought Wilson’s script to life. Their portrayals were finely honed so that their unique personalities were crisp and defined.
The credit goes both to the exceptional writing and extraordinary acting.
The scenic and costume design by Clint Ramos puts you immediately into1927 Chicago. The tri-level set works so well that you forget you are in a theatre.
This play can move onto the Great White Way without missing a beat. This is special theatre that you won’t want to miss.
WHAT
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
WHEN
March 9 – April 8, 2012 Evenings: Tues. – Thurs. at 7:30pm; Fri. – Sat. at 8pm; Select Sun. at 7pm Matinees: Select Wed., Sat., and Sun. at 2pm Days and times vary; see complete schedule at end of release.
Press Opening: Wednesday, March 14, 7pm. RSVP online at huntingtontheatre.org/news. WHERE
BU Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston – Avenue of the Arts
TICKETS
Single tickets start at $25. FlexPass subscriptions are also on sale: online at huntingtontheatre.org; by phone at 617 266 0800, or in person at the BU Theatre Box Office, 264 Huntington Ave. and the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA
Box Office, 527 Tremont St. in Boston’s South End.
$5 off: seniors $10 off: subscribers and BU community (faculty/staff/alumni) $25 “35 Below” tickets for patrons 35 years old and younger (valid ID required) $15 student and military tickets (valid ID required)