Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

by August Wilson

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More than music goes down in August Wilson's riveting portrayal of rage, racism, self-hatred and exploitation.

Story:

It's 1927 and Ma Rainey, the "Mother of the Blues," is recording new sides of old favorites in a rundown studio in Chicago. Fiery and determined, Ma Rainey fights to retain control over her music, while her cocky trumpet player Levee dreams of making his own name in the business.

Fun Fact

The play's title comes from Ma Rainey's song of the same name, which refers to the Black Bottom dance. Sheetmusic from Gus Horsley and Perry Bradford gave these instructions:

Hop down front then doodle back
Mooch to your left then mooch to the right
Hands on your hips and do the mess around,
Break a leg until you're near the ground
Now that's the old black bottom dance.

: Playwright
August Wilson

Broadway Premiere

Theatre: Cort Theatre

Opening Night: Oct 11, 1984

Total Performances: 276

Original Cast: John Carpenter, Lou Criscuolo, Scott Davenport-Richards, Charles S. Dutton, Leonard Jackson, Robert Judd, Christopher Loomis, Theresa Merritt, Aleta Mitchell, Joe Seneca

Director: Lloyd Richards

Producer: Ivan Bloch, Robert Cole and Frederick M. Zollo

Scenic Design: Charles Henry McClennahan

Costume Design: Daphne Pascucci

Lighting Design: Peter Maradudin

Sound Design: Jan Nebozenko

2003 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Royale Theatre

Opening Night: Feb 6, 2003

Total Performances: 68

Original Cast: Charles S. Dutton, Whoopi Goldberg, Louis Zorich, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Tony Cucci, Jack Davidson, Carl Gordon, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Anthony Mackie, Heather Alicia Simms

Director: Marion McClinton

Producer: Sageworks (Benjamin Mordecai, Executive Producer; August Wilson), Benjamin Mordecai, Robert G. Bartner, Harriet Newman Leve, Jennifer Manocherian, Kim Poster, Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions and Whoopi Goldberg