PlayDramaOriginalBroadway
Opening Date
Oct 11, 1984
Closing Date
Jun 09, 1985
1st Preview
Oct 03, 1984
1st Preview
Oct 03, 1984
Previews
9
Performances
276
PlayDramaOriginalBroadway
External Links
Shop

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Theatres
Cort Theatre
(Oct 11, 1984 - Jun 09, 1985)
Setting
Chicago. A bandroom and a recording studio. Early 1927.
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
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 (Sturdyvant, Irvin, Policeman), Bill Cobbs (Cutler), Arthur French (Slow Drag, Toledo), Brent Jennings (Levee, Sylvester) and Ebony Jo-Ann (Ma Rainey, Dussie Mae)

Cort Theatre (Oct 11, 1984 - Jun 09, 1985)

Cast

Angela Bassett
Dussie Mae
Bill Cobbs
Cutler
trombonist
Arthur French
Slow Drag
bassist
Ebony Jo-Ann
during illness
Ma Rainey
John Randolph Jones
Policeman
Understudies: Thomas Martell Brimm (Cutler), Damien Leake (Levee, Sylvester), Jack R. Marks (Sturdyvant, Irvin, Policeman), Lou Myers (Toledo, Slow Drag) and Victor Raider-Wexler (Sturdyvant, Irvin, Policeman)

Tony Award®

 

Best Play

1985 Nominee
Produced by Ivan Bloch , Robert Cole and Frederick M. Zollo
Written by August Wilson
 

Best Featured Actor in a Play

1985 Nominee
Charles S. Dutton
 

Best Featured Actress in a Play

1985 Nominee
Theresa Merritt

Drama Desk Award

 

Outstanding New Play

1985 Nominee
Produced by Ivan Bloch , Robert Cole and Frederick M. Zollo
Written by August Wilson

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

1985 Winner
Charles S. Dutton

Theatre World

Award

1985 Recipient
Charles S. Dutton
Season:
View Graph
Week Ending Gross % Gross Pot. Attendance % Capacity # Previews # Perf.
Statistics supplied are courtesy of The Broadway League.
PRODUCTIONS

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