Gut Bucket Blues
Gut Bucket Blues – The Legendary Bessie Smith
Written and Directed by David H. Bell
World Premiere
Welcome David H. Bell, Former Alliance Theatre Assoc. Artistic Director, Back to Atlanta!!!
What made Bessie Smith Empress of the Blues? This world premiere musical explores her raucous life as the seed of her raucous music. From her start on the touring circuit to her success as a recording artist, Bessie refused to buckle under personal or social indignities. Find out Bessie was big as her blues, an extraordinary woman with a vivid rage to live. From the writer who brought us Hot Mikado.
Venue: Balzer Theatre @ Herren’s, 84 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
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Purchase Individual Tickets to Gut Bucket Blues
Showtimes
Previews: Sept 28, 29, 30, 2010 @ 8
Opening Night: Oct 1 @ 8 Sold Out!
Performances: Oct 2 @ 2:30 & 8, Oct 3 @ 2:30, Oct 6 @ 10 AM (student matinee) & 8, Oct 7 @ 8, Oct 8 @ 8 Sold Out!, Oct 9 @ 2:30 & 8, Oct 10 @ 2:30, Oct 12 @ 8, Oct 13 @ 8, Oct 14 @ 8, Oct 15 @ 8, Oct 16 @ 2:30 & 8, Oct 17 @ 2:30, Oct 19 @ 8, Oct 20 @ 8, Oct 21 @ 8, Oct 22 @ 8, Oct 23 @ 2:30 & 8, Oct 24 @ 2:30, Oct 26 @ 8, Oct 27 @ 8, Oct 28 @ 8, Oct 29 @ 8, Oct 30 @ 2:30 & 8, Oct 31 @ 2:30, Nov 2 @ 8, Nov 3 @ 8, Nov 4 @ 8, Nov 5 @ 8, Nov 6 @ 2:30 & 8, Nov 7 @ 2:30
About the Playwright/Director
David H. Bell For the last 30 years, David H. Bell’s career has spanned a wide range of International and National projects as director, choreographer and author. As Artistic Director of the historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., David inaugurated such World Premiere musicals as Elmer Gantry, A Christmas Carol (adaptor) and Hot Mikado (author – winner Helen Hayes Award, Best Director). His work at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Marriott Theatre and Drury Lane Oakbrook in Chicago has earned him 40 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations (winning the award 11 times). In New York City, David has directed both on and off Broadway, include the Diffa Tribute to Edith Head (Michael Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Julianne Moore), Heartstrings (Sandy Duncan, Patti LuPone, Salt N’ Pepa, Sara Gilbert) and Give My Regards to Broadway at Carnegie Hall (Richard Kiley, Jule Styne, Carol Channing, Jerry Orback, Chita Rivera, Jerry Herman, George Abbott). Internationally, David has worked on London’s West End on Hot Mikado (author – Laurence Olivier Award Nominee), Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Berlin, Barcelona (1992 Olympic Closing Ceremonies), the Harlem Gospel Singers and the Dirty Dancing Concert Tour. As Associate Artistic Director to Kenny Leon at the Alliance Theatre, David directed over 20 productions. David has written numerous musicals, including Cowboys and Lawyers and The Good War with Craig Carnelia. David currently heads the Music Theatre program at Northwestern University.
About the Musical Director
JMichael holds BA and Masters Degrees from Alabama State and the University of Michigan, respectively. He has produced corporate shows at The Mirage and Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas. His "Platters Tribute" concept performed ten shows with Marvin Hamlisch and the prestigious Pittsburgh Symphony and he has been a featured performer for Disney cruises and Disneyland. Black Nativity, The Wiz, Ain't Misbehavin’, and Blues in the Night are among the many shows he has been Musical Director. His acting performances include Piano Lesson and Mahalia. He co-wrote and performed the title song for the movie Olive Juice.
The Cast
Adrienne Reynolds* (Bessie Smith)
*Jahi Kearse (Jack Gee, Lonnie Fisher) is thrilled to return to True Colors Theatre. Regional credits include: Passing Strange, In The Red And Brown Water, his Helen Hayes nominated performance in Cool Papa's Party, Top Dog/Under Dog, Debbie Allen's Souls Possessed, Maurice Hines' Yo Alice, 5 Guys Named Moe, his Suzie Bass nominated performance in Godspell, Suessical The Musical, A Christmas Carol, Black Nativity, Broadway's Tony nominated Sahr Ngaujah's - Conversations With Ice, Five Fingers of Funk, and his Woodie King Jr. Award Winning performance in DreamGirls. Jahi is a founding member of Freddie Hendricks' Youth Ensemble of Atlanta (YEA). His musical direction credits include: Conversations With Ice (Amsterdam), Soweto (South Africa), Five Fingers of Funk, Atalanta (Rotterdam), Times (Antwerp, Belgium). Jahi has a live EP, "Memoirs of a Blue Child" on sale now.
JC Long (Man #1) is delighted to make his True Colors debut. Recent credits include the title roles in Hamlet!The Musical!, and Coriolanus, as well as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Tavern). Locally, J.C. has been seen at the Alliance, Georgia Shakespeare, Aurora Theatre, Dad's Garage, Actor's Express, Synchronicity Performance Group and Theatre du Reve. Abroad, he spent 3 years touring a total of 14 productions internationally with the American Shakespeare Center. J.C. would like to thank David Bell, and Rosemary Newcott for opportunity and guidance. And to his fiance Drea, the beautiful genius: "Te quiero, mi unica!".
*Christopher Morgan (Clarence Smith) was most recently seen as "The Viper" in the national tour of Ain't Misbehavin'. He was a featured dancer in The Hollywood Bowl's cast of Guys and Dolls and made his Broadway debut in Kiss Me, Kate. New York credits include: Purlie, 70 Girls, 70, Langston Hughes' Little Ham and From My Hometown. He has toured the states in Smoky Joe's Cafe, Victor/Victoria, Carousel, and Dreamgirls. He made his film debut in "Blood of a Champion" and has been seen on television in "A Royal Birthday", "Guiding Light", and on TBS' "Meet the Browns". Mr Morgan was the host of the 2006 Barbados Jazz Festival and the 2007 Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festivals' television coverage for the BET network. Regional highlights include: Hot Mikado, Once on This Island, Swingin' on a Star, Five Guys Named Moe, Urinetown, Swing, Where's Charlie? and Sanctified. Special Thanks to Kim and Sebastian for all the support a husband/daddy could use!!! I love you!!!!
Latrice Pace (Woman #2) Born into Atlanta’s First Family of Gospel, Latrice was destined to venture into the music industry. She has traveled the world doing theatrical productions such as her latest feat as the comedic Nurse Nancy in Tyler Perry’s What’s Done in the Dark, Robert Townsend’s Musical Theatre of Hope and the Alliance Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel. Latrice has also contributed vocally to a plethora of music industry projects and live performances with her sisters LaShun Pace and The Pace Sisters, as well as, Jennifer Holliday, Donald Lawrence, Darwin Hobbs, Ann Nesby, BET’s “Sunday Best” and Paramount Pictures "The Fighting Temptation" soundtrack. Throughout her career she remains mindful of the Kingdom agenda, His will, His purpose and His intent. Her career has been paved with bold, creative achievements and highlighted by a series of first, to God be the glory!
*Amber Iman (Woman #1) is so excited to be back with True Colors. Recent credits include Shakin the Mess Outta Misery (Horizon Theatre); Stick Fly (Arena Stage/Huntington Theatre Company); Goodnight Moon (Alliance Theatre), Once On this Island (Aurora Theatre), Black Nativity (True Colors), For Colored Girls directed by Jasmine Guy (IKAM Productions). Training: Howard University (B.F.A.), Member of Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity for Women & D.I.V.A. Inc., The Society for Women in the Arts.
The Designers
Rochelle Barker (Scenic Designer) is the Resident Design Associate for Theatrical Outfit, an Associate Artist at GA Shakes, a Resource Council Member for Actor’s Express and a Part-time Instructor at GSU. Previous True Color’s set designs: Blues for an Alabama Sky, Miss Evers’ Boys, Rejoice, The Wiz, Brass Bird’s Don’t Sing, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, Stick Fly and Black Nativity.
Joseph Futral (Lighting Designer) Over the last 25 years, Joseph has worked with many Atlanta arts organizations such as Brooks and Company Dance, Horizon Theatre, Georgia State Players, Ballethnic Dance Company, Lee Harper, and Moving in the Spirit. Elsewhere, he has worked for Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Charleston Ballet Theatre, Ron and Zanne Colton's Augusta Ballet, and Spoleto Festival, USA, Portland Ballet, New York International Fringe Festival, Fred Garbo's Inflatable Theatre Company, Ohio Ballet, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland, OH; events for Amherst College, Yale University, Saab, Coca Cola, Buick, and many other arts and corporate clients. He also seeks to impact the dance community through wormholeatl.com.
Jeremy W. Floyd (Costume Designer)
MC Park (Props)
The Musicians
Freddie Beyah (Guitar) moved to Atlanta with The Velvetone Band in 1970. The Velvetones evolved and became known as the Third World Band. Henry Wynn Enterprises and Production Company signed the Band and Beyah and they began touring with the legendary Al Green and William Bell. Beyah has brought his distinctive sound to stages alongside artists such as Mitty Collier, Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Benny Latimore, Ollie Woodson, Members of the S.O.S. Band, R.B. Hudmond, Dorothy Moore, Millie Jackson and Johnny Taylor. Beyah performs as a solo guitarist in some of Atlanta’s best-known blues and jazz venues and is the band leader for the Willie Hill Blues Revue. Beyah has performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (2005) and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (2006) under the direction of Marvin Hamlisch. Beyah currently has two CDs to his credit: A New Beginning and Southern Jazz.
John Kaleefa Haamid (Drums) graduated from Alabama State at Montgomery where he attended on a music scholarship. He has been performing with various artists since the late 60’s, such as Jackie Wilson, Barry White, The Three Degrees, and Ojeda Penn. From 1969-1980 he toured Europe in Stage and USO tours and from 1994-1998 he played with The Paul Mitchell Trio. His goal is to continue to enhance his skills and develop a recording company.
Ramon Pooser (Bass)
JMichael (Piano)
