Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Uncle Fred and Jill were invited to the opening night of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The play is part of a 10 play cycle that depicts the African-American experience in each decade of the 20th Century.

There was a Ma Rainey who is the so called mother of the blues. She recorded in the 1920’s and the play is set in a crummy recording studio where we meet the four band members as we wait for Ma Rainey to arrive. There are only a few musical numbers but the stage actions are in their own way like tracks on a blues album.

For more information visit the Beck Center For Performing Arts.