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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom : Enthusiasm, Struggles, & Taboos

The Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ kicked off the 2016 – 2017 season with August Wilson’s 1920s inspired play entitled Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom : Enthusiasm, Struggles, & Taboos
Photo courtesy of Two River Theater

The Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ kicked off the 2016 – 2017 season with August Wilson’s 1920s inspired play Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

About Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Set in Chicago in 1927, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom follows the 1920s musicial life of legendary singer Ma Rainey (the real-life “Mother of the Blues”) as she lays down tracks with her band in a recording studio.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom TRTC 9-16 225 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, by August Wilson Two River Theatre Company 9/9/16 Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson Scenic Design: Charlie Corcoran Costume Designer: Karen Perry Lighting Designer: Burke Brown © T Charles Erickson Photography tcepix@comcast.net


Brandon Dirden, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 
© T Charles Erickson Photography

Ma Rainey was one of the top selling artists during that time who signed with Paramount Records and was the first blues singer to be signed to a major label.

Within a matter of a few years, the top selling artists who performed with Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson were pulling in $200 per recording while white performers who performed in black face earned $10,000 within the same week. This particular story is not told in the play, but the undertone of unfairness and racial discrimination is played out very well throughout this production.

The premise

Much to the dismay of producer Sturdyvant (Peter Van Wagner) and Irvin (Michael Cumperty), Ma Rainey is late. But the rest of the band has arrived and led the audience in a very intellectual dialogue on the racial realities during the 1920s.

The band

The band consists of Levee (Brandon Dirden) an ambitious trumpet player who is eager to bring a new style of music to his generation.

An intellectual and wise old piano player Toledo (Brian D. Coats), bassist Slow Drag (Harvy Blanks).

Trombone player Culter (James A. Willaims) who is very modest in the midst of the disagreements.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom TRTC 9-16 249 Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, by August Wilson Two River Theatre Company 9/9/16 Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson Scenic Design: Charlie Corcoran Costume Designer: Karen Perry Lighting Designer: Burke Brown © T Charles Erickson Photography tcepix@comcast.net

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
© T Charles Erickson Photography
tcepix@comcast.net

The players in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

The youngest of the quartet is Levee (Dirden), who is an enthusiastic eager musician ready to change the world with his music.

As the band is waiting for Ma Rainey (Arnetia Walker), Levee and Toledo wait in the rehearsal room, exchanging dialogue which is sometimes very intense.

Irvin and Sturdy are at the top level of the recording studio getting things ready as they wait for Ma Rainey.

When Ma Rainey finally arrives with a female friend Dussie Mae (Chante Adams) and her nephew Sylvester (Marcel Spears), they burst in as they were being chased by a police officer who says they were in an altercation with unaccommodating cab driver. The police officer wants to charge them with assault but Ma Rainey’s doesn’t back down. Her manager, Irvin, eventually manages to get everything taken care of.

During the course of this play, you will realize that though Ma Rainey is a highly respected singer, she can only push her influence but so far; a tale that Leveee would also learn as well.

Lessons in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom takes you on a journey through a keen lenses on life, the struggles African Americans faced during those times, to a glimpse of “taboos” of same-sex couple lifestyle. Ma Rainey was powerful and she had a girlfriend with her to stand in her prowess.

I will not go into much detail as I want to encourage you all to see this dynamic play and feel August Wilson’s captivating, versatile style of writing with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Not only is the writing style impressive, but as you walk into The Two River’s quaint theater, you will instantly feel you are in a recording studio during the 1920s with its impeccable set and stage design.

I was very pleased to be a part of the opening night festivities. I encourage everyone to see this play, especially if you want a true lesson on rich African American history.

In my opinion, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the best of Wilson’s culturally rich authentic playwrights.

Two River Theater nails it again.

The play is running until October 9th. Visit tworivertheater.org for ticket information.


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Black Excellence

Inside the 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood® Awards

Hosted by Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the star studded event premiered March 15, exclusively on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

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17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: (L-R) Danielle Brooks, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and Kathryn Busby attend the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on March 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Get a look inside the 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards.

Hosted by Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the star studded event premiered March 15, exclusively on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

About ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards

The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood honors women who are making their undeniable mark in film and television and amplifies their strides in defining what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood.

Honorees

This year’s honorees and entertainment industry trailblazers include Academy Award nominated actress & Grammy Award winner, Danielle Brooks, six-time Grammy nominated singer and leading-actress Halle Bailey, acclaimed screenwriter and showrunner of All American, All American: Homecoming and Found, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and industry powerhouse & President of Original Programming for STARZ, Kathryn Busby.

Check out some photo highlights inside the 17th ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards

For more, please visit http://www.essence.com/bwih2024


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Culture

U.S. Virgin Islands Announces the Performance Line-up for St. Thomas Carnival Village Featuring Shaggy, Sizzla, Patrice Roberts, and Machel Montano

The Village will be headlined by Caribbean superstars Shaggy, Patrice Roberts, Sizzla Kalonji, Kes, and Machel Montano, who will kick off the six-night free Village concerts on Monday, April 29.

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St. Thomas Carnival Village

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals has announced the performance line-up for the 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village.

72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village

The Village will be headlined by Caribbean superstars Shaggy, Patrice Roberts, Sizzla Kalonji, Kes, and Machel Montano, who will kick off the six-night free Village concerts on Monday, April 29.

“The anticipation around this year’s St. Thomas Carnival is at an all-time high, and the Village night performers reflect the continued influence and growth of our territory’s three carnivals,” exclaims USVI Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte.

Center Stage

Adam O, Rudy Live, Temisha, Karnage, Blind Earz, VIO International, and Spectrum Band are among the performers who will take center stage to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Every year, our goal is to pay homage to the vast Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture that is at the cornerstone of these annual celebrations for natives and visitors alike,” added USVI Division of Festivals Director Ian Turnbull.

Haitian kompa band VAYB and Dominican salsa orchestra Chiquito Team Band will provide a cross-cultural immersion of sound, highlighting the diverse musical interests of Virgin Islands residents.

First-time performers

Rounding out the village are a few first-time performers in the territory, including TeeJay, Jada Kingdom, and Kollision Band, and returning favorites Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah, and Grandmasters.

Kids Night Out Village Night

This year, the Division of Festivals will host its first Kids Night Out Village Night, with activities including the Toddlers Derby, Best Dressed Doll, and performances by TMK and OTB.

More information on 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village

For up-to-date information about the 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival, visit https://www.instagram.com/usvifestivals/.


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Culture

Online romances get a dose of reality in OWN’S all-new love & relationship series ‘The Never Ever Mets’ 

Hosted by Ta’Rhonda Jones, this 10-episode series features seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person.

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The Never Ever Mets Series TV Show

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has announced an all-new relationship series that takes online dating into the real world, The Never Ever Mets.

About The Never Ever Mets Series

Hosted by Ta’Rhonda Jones, this 10-episode series features seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person! Now, they’re meeting face-to-face for the very first time and sharing a house together for three weeks to see if their internet love can survive off the screen and in real life.

Synopsis

As all seven couples convene under the same roof, dating in person rather than through their computers or phones quickly proves to be the biggest challenge yet.

While many couples have been years in the making, some quickly find the in-person relationship is not what they anticipated.

To test the strength of their love connections, the group participates in a series of fun and flirty relationship activities, couples therapy and for some, a trip to the “boom boom room.” But visits from discerning loved ones, meddling opinions and tension from others in the house challenge their bonds even further. At the end of their stay, some will go home together…and some will be signing off for good.

Premiere

The series premieres on Friday, April 19 at 8pm ET/PT, on the OWN Network.

Check out the trailer below:


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