It’s 1927 in Chicago and Ma Rainey is booked to record at the studio. Her band has arrived and is rehearsing. After a long wait, Ma finally arrives escorted by a police officer. Her manager talks to the officer and manages to smooth out the situation. He is always the fixer for Ma’s issues, and he manages to get everyone ready to record when another problem comes up. 

August Wilson (Joe Turner’s Come and Gone) has written a fantastic play about blues music and the people who recorded it in the 1920s. 

Ma Rainey was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1983. Seven years later, she was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

E. Faye Butler (Fat Ham, The Nacirema Society) is outstanding as the diva, Ma Rainey. She has a lot of demands and is constantly threatening to leave if they are met. Marc Grapey (Superbad, Sex and the City) is great as her manager, who does his best to handle all her requests. Matt Decaro (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office) is very good in the tough role of the owner of the studio who is sick of all her demands. Scott Aiello (A View From the Bridge) is solid as the police officer . 

Al’Jaleel McGhee (Revolution(s), Henry Johnson) is spectacular as Levee, the trumpet player and songwriter with big ambitions and a dark past. The rest of the excellent band includes Cedric Young (Lindiwe, Familiar) on bass, Kelvin Roston Jr. (Clue) on piano, and David Alan Anderson (The First Deep Breath) on guitar. Jabari Khaliq (Purpose) is great as Ma’s son, who has a stutter but still wants to speak on the record. Lastly, Tiffany Renee Johnson (Blues for an Alabama Sky, Passage) is so fun as Levee’s romantic interest. 

Cost of a ticket: $64 (Main Floor)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value +

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom through May 3rd!

Quinn Delaney