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Jelly's Last Jam
''Jelly's Last Jam'' is a musical with a book by George C. Wolfe, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and music by Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson. Based on the life and career of Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known as Jelly Roll Morton and generally regarded as one of the primary driving forces behind the introduction of jazz to the American public in the early 20th century, it also serves as a social commentary on the African-American experience during the era. LaMothe was born into a Louisiana Creole family that was established and free before the Civil War. Plot The play opens with the recently deceased Morton in a state of limbo, looking back on his life. He is reluctantly guided by the mysterious 'Chimney Man,' who forces him to recall the more painful moments of his life when he attempts to ignore or embellish them. Born into an old and wealthy mixed-race Creole family in New Orleans, the young Morton rebels against his upbringing by going into the streets and absorbing the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Morton was jazz's first arranger, proving that a genre rooted in improvisation could retain its essential characteristics when notated. His composition "Jelly Roll Blues", published in 1915, was one of the first published jazz compositions. He also claimed to have invented the genre. Morton also wrote "King Porter Stomp", "Wolverine Blues", "Black Bottom Stomp", and "I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say", the last being a tribute to New Orleans musicians from the turn of the 20th century. Morton's claim to have invented jazz in 1902 was criticized. Music critic Scott Yanow wrote, "Jelly Roll Morton did himself a lot of harm posthumously by exaggerating his worth...Morton's accomplishments as an early innovator are so vast that he did not really need to stretch the truth." Gunther Schuller ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
August Wilson Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre (formerly the Guild Theatre, ANTA Theatre, and Virginia Theatre) is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 245 West 52nd Street (Manhattan), 52nd Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1925, the theater was designed by C. Howard Crane and Kenneth Franzheim and was built for the Theatre Guild. It is named for Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson (1945–2005). The August Wilson has approximately 1,225 seats across two levels and is operated by Jujamcyn Theaters. The facade is a New York City designated landmark. The facade is designed as a variation of a 15th-century Tuscan villa, with a stage house to the west and an auditorium to the east. The facade has a stucco surface and openings with quoins, as well as a loggia. The placement of window openings reflected the theater's original interior arrangement. The front of the theater had facilities for the Theatre Guild, inclu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keith David
Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his signature deep voice and commanding screen presence in over 300 roles across film, stage, television, and interactive media. He has starred in such films as '' The Thing'' (1982), ''Platoon'' (1986), ''They Live'' (1988), ''Dead Presidents'' (1995), ''Armageddon'' (1998), ''There's Something About Mary'' (1998), ''Requiem for a Dream'' (2000), '' Pitch Black'' (2000), '' Barbershop'' (2002), ''Crash'' (2004), ''The Chronicles of Riddick'' (2004), ''Cloud Atlas'' (2012), ''The Nice Guys'' (2016), and '' Nope'' (2022). He starred as Elroy Patashnik in the sixth season of the NBC series ''Community'' (2015) and starred as Bishop James Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama '' Greenleaf'' (2016–2020). His Emmy-winning voice-over career includes work as the narrator of Ken Burns films such as '' The War'' (2007) and '' Muhammad Ali'' (2021). In film, characters that he has voiced include Dr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary Bond Davis
Mary Bond Davis (born June 3, 1958) is a singer, actor, and dancer from Los Angeles, California. She is best known for her performance as Motormouth Maybelle in the 2002 Broadway run of Hairspray (musical), Hairpsray. Biography Davis began her career at the age of 15 singing with different bands. She was a member of The Young Americans from 1974 to 1976, and appeared with them on ''The Bing Crosby Christmas Show''. In 1980, Davis auditioned for Ain't Misbehavin' (musical), Ain't Misbehavin', which traveled throughout the United States and Canada, and in 1982, spent a year with the world tour of ''Ain't Misbehavin''. Davis' most memorable film appearance is in Eddie Murphy's Coming To America. Additional film credits include ''Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling''; ''The Art Of Dying''; ''Hook''; ''Jeffrey''; ''New York Minute''; and ''Romance and Cigarettes''. Davis was in the original cast of the Broadway shows ''Mail'', ''Jelly's Last Jam'', ''Marie Christine'', and ''Hairspr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tonya Pinkins
Tonya Pinkins (born May 30, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Her award-winning debut feature film ''RED PILL'' was an official selection at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival, won the Best Black Lives Matter Feature and Best First Feature at The Mykonos International Film Festival, Best First Feature at the Luléa Film Festival, and is nominated for awards in numerous festivals around the globe. Her web-series ''The RED PILLING of AMERICA'' can be heard on her podcast ''"You Can't Say That!"'' at BPN.fm/ycst She is known for her portrayal of Livia Frye on the soap opera ''All My Children'' and for her roles on Broadway. She has been nominated for three Tony Awards (winning one), and has won Obie, Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, AUDLECO, Garland, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, Clarence Derwent, and NAACP Theater Awards. She has been nominated for the Olivier, Helen Hayes, Noel, Joseph Jefferson, NAACP Image, Soap Opera Digest, and Ovation Awards. She won the Tony ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ann Duquesnay
Ann Duquesnay is an American musical theatre singer/actress, composer and lyricist. She is best known for '' Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk'', which earned her a Tony Award and Grammy Award nomination. Early life Duquesnay's parents were Southern sharecroppers who moved to Harlem when she was five years old. Her formal music training began well after her stage years. She developed a passion for theatre, encouraged by director George C. Wolfe.Saltzman, SimonAnn Duqesnay Interview Theaterscene.net, September 27, 2004; retrieved November 23, 2006. Duquesnay's Broadway debut was in the revue '' Blues in the Night'' in 1982 as a standby. Two years later, she played Glinda in a revival of ''The Wiz''. She was next seen in ''Jelly's Last Jam'' as Gran Mimi and Ancestor. She was a replacement on Broadway in '' It Ain't Nothin But the Blues''. She toured extensively in the U.S. and internationally.She was critically acclaimed for her performance in roles as Alberta Hunter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Ruben Santiago-Hudson (born Ruben Santiago Jr., November 24, 1956) is an American actor, playwright, and director who has won national awards for his work in all three categories. He is best known for his role of Captain Roy Montgomery from 2009 to 2011 on ABC's ''Castle''. In November 2011 he appeared on Broadway in Lydia R. Diamond's play '' Stick Fly''. In 2013 he starred in the TV series '' Low Winter Sun'', a police drama set in Detroit. Early life Ruben Hudson was born in 1956 in Lackawanna, New York, the son of Alean Hudson and Ruben Santiago, a railroad worker. He later adopted his mother's maiden name as part of his compound surname."Ruben Santiago-Hudson profile FilmReference.com; accessed October 14, 2010. His father was [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Ard (dancer)
Kenneth D. "Ken" Ard (born June 30, 1960) is an American dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. Early life Ard was born in Oakland, California in 1960. His mother exposed him to jazz through frequent visits to musical in San Francisco and Oakland. Ard also proved to be an especially good gymnast, winning the California youth gymnastics championship at 16. After dancing at the Oakland Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, he was approached by Jon Hendricks for a lead role in his show, ''Evolution of the Blues'', to be presented in the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco. Career Ard was asked to choreograph for shows in Hawaii. When Alvin Ailey came to Hawaii, he asked Ard to dance in his American Dance Theater. But after a few months, Ard missed the dynamic of the combination of song and dance, and auditioned for a Broadway show for which he was selected, ''Cats'', ''Starlight Express'', ''Song and Dance'', ''Jelly's Last Jam'' and ''Smokey Joe's Cafe''. Ard appeared in the 20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Savion Glover
Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. Early life The youngest of three sons, Glover was born to a white father, who left the family before he was born, and a black mother. Glover's great grandfather on his mother's side, Dick Lundy, was a shortstop in the Negro leagues. He managed eleven Negro league baseball teams, including the Newark Eagles.Lahr, 270. His grandfather, Bill Lewis, was a big band pianist and vocalist. His grandmother, Anna Lundy Lewis, was the minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. She played for Whitney Houston when she was singing in the gospel choir, and was the one who first noticed Savion's musical talent. She once held him and hummed some rhythms to him, and he smiled and joined along. Glover graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1991. Career Glover stated that his style is "young and funk." When asked to describe what funk is, he says it is the bass line. "Funk is anyt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jules Fisher
Jules Fisher (born November 12, 1937) is an American lighting designer and producer. He is credited with lighting designs for more than 300 productions over the course of his 50-year career in Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well extensive work in film, ballet, opera, television, and rock and roll concert tours. He has been nominated 20 times for Tony Awards (as a lighting designer) and won nine Tony awards for Lighting Design, more than any other lighting designer. Biography Fisher was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the son of Anne (Davidson) and Abraham Fisher, a retailer. He is a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology.Rothstein, Mervy"A Life in the Theatre: Lighting Designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer" playbill.com, June 23, 2005 He is married to choreographer-director Graciela Daniele. He has been in a professional partnership with lighting designer Peggy Eisenhauer since 1985, and they formed Third Eye Ltd, a firm specializing in entertainment and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toni-Leslie James
Toni-Leslie James is an American costume designer for stage, television and film. James was awarded The Irene Sharaff Young Masters Award and the 2009 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Costume Design. She received a BFA in costume design from The Ohio State University. James was an associate professor and head of design in the theatre department of Virginia Commonwealth University for 12 years, and is currently an assistant professor of design and Yale Repertory Theatre resident costume designer for the Yale School of Drama. Her Broadway costume design credits include the costume designs for '' Bernhardt/Hamlet'' (2019 Drama Desk Award, 2018 Tony Award nomination), ''Come from Away'' (2017 Drama Desk nomination), the 2017 revival of August Wilson's '' Jitney'' (2017 Tony Award nomination, 2017 Drama Desk nomination), ''Amazing Grace'' (Hewes Design Award nomination), '' The Scottsboro Boys'' (Hewes Design Award nomination), '' Finian's Rainbow'', '' Chita Rivera: The Dancer's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robin Wagner (designer)
Robin Samuel Anton Wagner (born August 31, 1933) is an American scenic designer. Biography Wagner was born in San Francisco, the son of Phyllis Edna Catherine (née Smith-Spurgeon) and Jens Otto Wagner. He attended art school and started his career in theatres in that city with designs for ''Don Pasquale'', '' Amahl and the Night Visitors'', '' Tea and Sympathy'', and '' Waiting for Godot'', among others. In 1958, he relocated to New York City, where he worked on numerous off-Broadway productions before making his Broadway debut as an assistant designer for the Hugh Wheeler play '' Big Fish, Little Fish'' in 1961. His first solo project was a short-lived 1966 production of ''The Condemned of Altona'' by Jean-Paul Sartre. Wagner's many Broadway credits include '' Hair'', ''The Great White Hope'', '' Promises, Promises'', '' Gantry'',"Foresight" Gantry (1970), Ted Thurston, ''YouTube'', posted March 7, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g74V0h0Hsb0 '' Jesus Christ Superstar'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
