This just in: “Ma Rainey,” by Purchase students, in NYC

August

One of my happiest what-took-me-so-long discoveries last season was the excellent work being done on Anderson Hill Road in Purchase, by aspiring actors and actresses at Purchase College.

This weekend and next, some of those students will take their show — “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” by August Wilson—to Times Square’s Sage Theater for four performances.

Directed by senior Tabitha Holbert—who also plays Ma Rainey—they call themselves The People Theatre Company and include actors and design tech students at Purchase College.

Performances are on Aug. 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 8. Tickets are $20, $15 with a student ID.
The Sage Theatre is at 711 Seventh Ave., 2nd floor (Between 47th & 48th Streets). Call 603-568-4737 or visit here for tickets.

The production features a nontraditional cast, telling the story of blues singer Ma Rainey while tackling such thorny issues as race, religion, art and identity. It is set in 1927 Chicago.

The cast includes: Dennis Anderson (Port Chester); Caliaf St. Aubyn; Chris Stevenson; Marcus Callender; Holbert (Port Chester); Joanna Hartshorne (Hastings-On-Hudson); Greg Lynch (Cortlandt Manor); Frank Winters (Pleasantville); Dan Frye (Port Chester); John Colhouer (Port Chester). Technical crew includes: Sarah Testerman (Fishkill); Carley Anecharico (Mamaroneck); Zach Blane; Trevor Collins; Joseph DeLuise (Wappinger Falls); Jonathan Ramage; Kyle Birdwell; and Samuel Froeschle

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 11:21 am by Peter D. Kramer.
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