Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to open at Red Bank’s Two River Theater Sept. 16th

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, launches its 2016/17 Season with an extended four-week run of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the fourth play in Wilson’s American Century Cycle produced by Two River, following Jitney, Two Trains Running and Seven Guitars. Performances will begin in Two River’s Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, September 10 and continue through Sunday, October 9. The opening night performance is Friday, September 16 at 8pm.

Wilson’s incendiary drama, set in the 1920s, takes audiences into the world of legendary singer Ma Rainey (the real-life “Mother of the Blues”) as she lays down tracks with her band in a Chicago recording studio. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be directed by actor, playwright, and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway production of Seven Guitars. At Two River, he has directed August Wilson’s Jitney and Two Trains Running and his own world-premiere play, Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine. His other recent directing credits include two world premieres by Dominique Morisseau: Skeleton Crew at the Atlantic Theater Company and Paradise Blue at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He won an Obie Award and critical acclaim for his solo show Lackawanna Blues, and his screenplay for the HBO adaptation received the Humanitas Prize, Christopher Award, National Board of Review Honors, and NAACP Image Award; and Emmy, Golden Globe, and Writers Guild of America nominations.

The cast, previously announced, includes Chanté Adams (Dussie May), Harvy Blanks (Slow Drag), Brian D. Coats (Toledo), Michael Cumpsty (Irvin), Brandon J. Dirden (Levee), Bob Mackasek (Policeman), Marcel Spears (Sylvester), Peter Van Wagner (Sturdyvant), Arnetia Walker (Ma Rainey), and James A. Williams (Cutler).

The creative team for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom includes scenic designer Charlie Corcoran, costume designer Karen Perry, lighting designer Burke Brown, and sound designer Rob Kaplowitz. The original music is by Bill Sims Jr. & Kenny Rampton, the fight direction is by Thomas Schall, the casting is by Heidi Griffith & Kate Murray, and the stage manager is Laura Wilson.

Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. The lead production sponsor is Riverview Medical Center and the media partner is WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM.