Monday Moments - Sassy Mamas

 Saturday, June 20th, I treated myself to some local theater.  I love the Jubilee and they do not disappoint. 

SASSY  MAMAS was hysterical.  Written by Celeste Bedford Walker.  Directed by Davian Jackson. 

cast - The Key Ladies   

 Jo Billie - Crystal Williams

Mary - Pattra Smith

Wilhelmina - Deon Sanders

Side pieces - the guys.   Colby - Christopher Hill,   LaDonte - Jacobie Thornton, Wes - Brian Gibson

OMG - These ladies were looking for love for various reasons.   It took a bit, some struggle, some misunderstandings....

But they found the right connections. 

Very funny.  Well-acted. The ladies were fine.  The men were HOT.

We all laughed

Awesome Saturday matinee.  Support Your Local Theater.    Truly

Whatever Wednesday - Jubilee Theater

 It was the final hot Sunday in June and I treated myself to the cool  Jubilee Theater in downtown  Fort Worth. This place is a gem with fine acting, great productions, and thought provoking drama. That day's show Thoughts  of a Colored Man by Keenan Scott II did not disappoint. 

The director quoted Jesse Owens, " The battles that count aren't the ones for  gold medals. The struggles within yourself - the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us - that's where it's at. "  This show brings to light the internal struggles and unseen challenges that Black men face daily. 

The characters in this show - Love, Anger, Depression, Passion, Lust, Happiness, and Wisdom - all move about  the stage in small vignettes located in Brooklyn.  Work, barbershop, sports, expecting a child, getting over a break-up.  There's humor, sadness, struggle, and delight - all depicted with humanity. The  actors were tremendous and the stories they told  were powerful. 

I appreciated this fine afternoon  of theater. Thank you Jubilee for your presentations. 

Finally Friday - Soul Train to Christmas

 Sunday December 4th, Ray, Linda and Tom Hoffman, and I enjoyed an afternoon matinee at the Jubilee Theater in Fort Worth - Take the Soul Train to Christmas.  This was a very fun show featuring a trip  through African American Christmas history. It featured songs from This Christmas to Jingle Bells to Thank you Lord - plenty of soul, gospel,  and glorious tunes. 

The show featured a talented cast and an original story. I love this theater and the creativity. 

A very special moment - Ray was seated next to Miss Opal Lee.  Look her  up. She's 96 and an inspiration. An educator and activist - she worked hard to get Juneteenth recognized as a holiday. A gracious woman and an inspiration for all. She and Ray had a good chat and we wished blessings upon her as we left the show. 

What a fun afternoon to kick off our Christmas season. I feel the glory and spirit. 

Dreamgirls

Treated myself to a Sunday matinee musical at Bass Hall.  The Jubilee Theater presented Dreamgirls, and it was fabulous. 

 I had great seats in the orchestra parterre level. 

Dreamgirls was a hit on Broadway and in the movies (starred Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, etc).  It's a tale of music dreams, girl groups, greedy managers, friendship, love, lust, and power. Good songs, dancing,  and amazing voices made this a wonderful  afternoon. 

The signature song, "I'm Not Going, "  sung by Effie (Contessah Irene Davis) is a show-stopper. The woman can SING and this one hit deep in the soul. 

I was glad that Bass Hall was filled to the brim. Folks could witness the talented Jubilee ensemble in a larger lovely setting. The final curtain drew everyone to  their feet.  Fabulous afternoon. 

Jubilee Theater - How I Got Over....streaming style

I've written about the Jubilee Theater in Fort Worth before. They feature black performers, and original shows with a message - very positive - Black Lives Matter.

In this case, How I Got Over, has a 1968 story with a back drop of gospel music. It's a fantastic production with superb actors and fabulous voices. And when the show had to stop live performances, they got on board with streaming. I jumped at the chance and enjoyed a Friday night in the comfort of my own office computer.  It was way beyond worth the twenty dollar ticket.

It's an Easter Sunday, 1968, and MLK has just been killed. The background involves protest (gee, sound familiar - do we ever learn?) and Niecy has returned to her hometown church. She's greeted warmly by some and suspiciously by others - Mama ain't happy. Lots of underlying family tension, and Niecy has to defend herself for making a stand.  Praise for some old church tunes - Precious Lord, Move On Up a Little Higher, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, and When the Saints Go Marching In.

This is a high energy, hand clapping, foot stomping, soul stirring show.  (show blurb)
I agree and I've always loved and supported the talent at this theater. I sure hope they can stay afloat and keep bringing us musical theater that matters.

Support your local town arts however you can!

Jubilee Theater - Single Black Female

A few Saturdays ago, I enjoyed an afternoon of Jubilee Theater. Single Black Female by Lisa B. Thomson, directed by Vicky Washington, and starring Cherie Williams and Naeaidria M. Callihan was excellent.

Plenty of laughs, plenty of Oh NO moments, plenty of reminders of the resilience of a strong species - upwardly mobile...highly educated...take no prisoners...loving and enjoying life...all while keeping an eye on that ticking biological clock, dodging the brothas who just know that they are "Mister Right", and seeking love in all kinds of places!  (from the director's notes in the program)

I thoroughly enjoyed the solid performances, the clever dialogue, the hysterical vignettes, and the poignant moments of friendship too. Superb play.

The Jubilee Theater is a gem in Fort Worth Texas. Their mission is communication and awareness through the arts - unite folks from all backgrounds and appreciate the beauty of the human spirit.

Jubilee Theater - Blues in the Night

Support local theater.  Yep - I'm saying it again.  A Sunday at the Jubilee Theater in Fort Worth TX was good for the soul. It was like going to church - 1930s, a cheap hotel backdrop, it's dusk to dawn, and oh they are singing the blues.

Songs by Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington,  and more - look at that list. I'm not up on my blues, but the singer/actors at the Jubilee brought this show to life. Chelsea Bridgman, Jamall Houston, Natalie King, and Cherish Robinson had fabulous voices full of heart, soul, and guts.

The sets and production are rich, the theater is small, but the voices are big.  All I can say is WOW!

Go find a live show to experience. You don't have to pay a fortune to appreciate so much talent.

Beehive - The 60s Musical

Beehive - The 60s Musical.  If you live anywhere close to Fort Worth, TX book your tickets now. This show is a must see. I've talked about the Jubilee Theater in downtown Fort Worth before. It's the little theater with big voices. I've never seen a bad show, and Beehive proved to be a blast.

It's a trippy look at all the great women who made 60s music so fun, energetic, thoughtful, and enjoyable. Your toes will tap, your hands will clap. From the Chiffons to the Shirelles, to Supremes, from Aretha to Cher to Tina. Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, and Lulu. And a final Janis Joplin song.  The young ladies in the show pulled out all the stops in vocals, choreography, humor, and grace.

Kyndal, Jenna, Ayanna, Devin, Nikka, and Mattie - they sang their hearts out.
A very special shout out to Kyndal Robertson for channeling her Tina Turner - that number was lights out fantastic.

Tease that hair, go back in your time machine, sit back, and enjoy Beehive - The 60s Musical.
The Jubilee pulls off another awesome live show.

Jubilee

Having Our Say was presented at the Jubilee Theater in downtown Fort Worth. It's an intimate setting, and perfect for this story of two sisters. Bessie (Marjorie Johnson) and Sadie (Perri Gaffney) Delaney were sisters. At age 101 and 103, they shared the first 100 years of their lives. There's a remarkable book and also this play.

Born as daughters of a former slave, they grew up in the Jim Crow South, and ultimately moved to New York, living in Harlem at a renaissance time. Well-educated, they had careers - teaching and dentistry.  Never married, they stuck together through thick and thin.

The actors gave a stunning performance as they chatted to the audience as if we were interviewing them. Bessie and Sadie welcomed us in to their living room and kitchen, telling stories, reflecting on history, and finishing each other's sentences. Having Our Say was rich in history and character. The Delaney Sisters were remarkable women who exemplified a piece of the American fabric of dreams and common sense.

Jolly Mystery at the Jubilee

Talent overflows in the Fort Worth area. You just have to poke your head around corners, put a name on the waiting list on a Saturday evening, and celebrate with jubilation when the name is called. Preview night at the Jubilee Theatre (www.jubileetheatre.org) proved to be a hoot. Sam Shade: A Detective Musical had us chasing the Maltese Chicken, and no we aren't talking Chinese food.

And "No, don't do it Sam, don't sing." Sure enough, the leading man never got a number, but he kept everyone else around him singing a fine tune. Comedy, drama, and a heartfelt love song by the lascivious secretary, Lucy Lipschlitz (amazing voice of Sheran G. Keyton) kept the audience alternately laughing and applauding. Two standouts for me were Major A. Attaway and Aaron D. Petite (they played versions of the Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre Falcon characters).

All in all, kudos to playwright/composer Joe Rogers for imagination and creativity. Bravos to the fine singers, dancers, and actors of the Jubilee organization. It was an entertaining Saturday night and thanks to the city of Fort Worth/Sundance Square for FREE parking.

Support local theater: Sam Shade runs 7/31/09 thru 8/23/09 at the Jubilee Theatre

You know, "life is a mystery".

Joanne