'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opens in Sarasota

One of the most ambitious, and most successful, playwriting feats in contemporary America theater was August Wilson's "Pittsburgh Cycle," also called the "Century Cycle," a group of 10 plays, each of which explores a different decade of the 20th century. Two of the plays -- "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson" -- won Pulitzer Prizes.

Along with those two, probably the most well-known entry in the cycle is "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," which is the next offering from the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. WBTT's production opens Saturday.

It's the only play in the cycle that's not set in Pittsburgh. The scene is 1927 in Chicago, and blues legend Gertrude "Ma" Rainey is ready to record her signature songs. In the studio, she squares off against battling musicians and a tight-fisted white producer. The play explores an American era in which even the most renowned African-American artists had to fight racism for the respect they deserved.

It is directed by Chuck Smith, who made his WBTT debut last season with a great production of "Knock Me a Kiss," which was set in the same era. The cast includes Tarra Conner Jones, Robert Douglas, Terry Wells, Emerald Rose Sullivan, Earley Dean, David Abolafia, Stephen Emery, Henri Watkins, Kenny Dozier and Patric Robinson.

Details: Jan. 16-Feb. 20, West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way, Sarasota. Show times: 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. No matinee on Saturday, Jan. 16. Tickets: $36; Student/active military $22. Information: 941-366-1505, westcoastblacktheatre.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 6:17 PM with the headline "'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opens in Sarasota ."