Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
by August Wilson

Name: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Brand: August Wilson
SKU: 9780573681134
Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Book Cover — Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins1920sRole(s) for Black Actor(s)Interior SetPeriod Costumes

Awards & Recognition

Drama Critics CircleDrama Desk AwardOlivier AwardTony Award

Nominee: Three 1985 Tony Awards, including Best Play Nominee: Two 1985 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding New Play Winner! 1985 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play Winner! 2016 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play

Synopsis

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; Set in Chicago in 1927, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a play dealing with issues of race, art, religion and the historic exploitation of black recording artists by white producers.

Press Reviews

"Searing... funny, salty, carnal and lyrical... Wilson has lighted a dramatic fuse that snakes and hisses through several anguished eras of American life. When the fuse reaches its explosive final destination, the audience is impaled by the impact."
— The New York Times

"Brilliant... explosive! Dramatically riveting."
— Newhouse Newspapers

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Irvin	—	—	—
Cutler	—	—	—
Toldeo	—	—	—
Slow Drag	—	—	—
Levee	—	—	—
Ma Rainey	—	—	—
Policeman	—	—	—
Dussie Mae	—	—	—
Sylvester	—	—	—
Sturdyvant	—	—	—