Pinterest

IBDB: Internet Broadway Database Policies About the Internet Broadway Database Help FAQ/Contact the Internet Broadway Database
  Home Shows People Theatres Characters Awards Songs grosses  
The Broadway League
 

Official Broadway League sites:
 
Quick Search For:   In This Category:  

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom   

 
Cort Theatre , (10/11/1984 - 6/09/1985)
First Preview:Oct 03, 1984 Total Previews:9
Opening Date:Oct 11, 1984   
Closing Date:Jun 09, 1985 Total Performances:276

Category: Play, Drama, Original, Broadway
Setting: The bandroom and recording studio of a record company in Chicago. The "Race" division. Early March 1927.


Production Staff
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization (Gerald Schoenfeld: Chairman; Bernard B. Jacobs: President)
Produced by Ivan Bloch, Robert Cole and Frederick M. Zollo; (Uncredited) produced by Nicholas Paleologos; Associate Producer: Bart Berman, Hart Productions and William P. Suter
Originally produced by Yale Repertory Theatre (Lloyd Richards: Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai: Managing Director); Initially presented at the 1982 National Playwrights' Conference by The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center
Written by August Wilson; Musical Director: Dwight Andrews; Featuring "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and "See See Rider" written by Ma Rainey; Featuring "Hear Me Talkin' To You" written by Louis Armstrong; Featuring "Trust No Man" written by Lillian Hardeway Henderson; Featuring "Doctor Jazz" written by Joseph Oliver and Walter Melrose
Directed by Lloyd Richards
Scenic Design by Charles Henry McClennahan; Costume Design by Daphne Pascucci; Lighting Design by Peter Maradudin; Sound Design by Jan Nebozenko
General Manager: Kingwill & Goossen, Inc.; Assistant to the General Managers: Susan Sampliner
Production Stage Manager: Mortimer Halpern; Stage Manager: K. White
Press Representative: Jeffrey Richards Associates; Associate to the Production: Deborah D. Mathews and Georgianne Walken; Casting: Meg Simon and Fran Kumin; Advertising: Serino, Coyne & Nappi; Photographer: Bert Andrews
Cast
John Carpenter Sturdyvant
studio owner
Lou Criscuolo Irvin
Ma's manager
Scott Davenport-Richards Sylvester
Ma's nephew
Charles S. Dutton Levee
trumpeter
Leonard Jackson Slow Drag
bassist
Robert Judd Toledo
pianist
Christopher Loomis Policeman
Theresa Merritt Ma Rainey
Aleta Mitchell Dussie Mae
Joe Seneca Cutler
trombonist
Understudies: Peter Boyden (Irvin, Policeman, Sturdyvant), Bill Cobbs (Cutler), Arthur French (Slow Drag, Toledo), Brent Jennings (Levee, Sylvester) and Ebony Jo-Ann (Dussie Mae, Ma Rainey)
1985 Tony Award® Best Play
 Written by August Wilson; Produced by Ivan Bloch, Robert Cole and Frederick M. Zollo [nominee]
1985 Tony Award® Best Featured Actor in a Play
 Charles S. Dutton [nominee]
1985 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Play
 Theresa Merritt [nominee]
1985 Theatre World Award
winnerCharles S. Dutton [winner]
1985 Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play
 Produced by Ivan Bloch, Robert Cole and Frederick M. Zollo; Written by August Wilson [nominee]
1985 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
winnerCharles S. Dutton [winner]