"Tell him who he's messin' with!"-MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM at Writers Theatre

After arriving late to her recording session, Ma Rainey brings an unwelcome police officer in tow. With differences in their stories, Ma reveals that the officer isn't telling the absolute truth.
Visit writerstheatre.org to learn more → bit.ly/MaRaineyWT
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Written by August Wilson
Directed by Ron OJ Parson
FEBRUARY 6 - MARCH 17, 2019
This visceral American classic serves as the 1920s chapter of August Wilson's epic American Century Cycle. What begins as a routine recording session becomes more strained as tensions rise between the members of a blues band and the owners of the recording studio. The white producers mean to exploit the talents of the band-especially the gifted and impulsive Levee-but when Ma insists on having things her way, tensions are enflamed and the play builds to an unexpected and searing climax.
Inspired by the real-life Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, this groundbreaking work is the only one of American icon August Wilson’s plays to be set in Chicago. Directed by WT Resident Director Ron OJ Parson (East Texas Hot Links, The Caretaker, The Old Settler), Ma Rainey will envelop you in a vision of the Roaring Twenties defined by Wilson’s remarkably beautiful language and an extraordinary dramatic conflict between ambition, desperation and love for The Blues.
Recommended for ages 13+ for strong language and violence.
#MaRaineyWT #WritersTheatre

[@804smiles]

Why I thought this was Octavia Spencer? Either way i jus watched the Netflix movie & it was amazing the role Chadwick Boseman played gave me chills & made me cry! RIP Mr Boseman!

[@clayeedou5774]

The comment I was looking for. I couldn't be the only one thinking she ressembles Octavia Spencer !

[@804smiles]

@@clayeedou5774 Right! She could be like her real life sister as much as they favor 😆

[@COJAZZ3]

I thought it was Octavia at first too!

[@804smiles]

@@COJAZZ3 yeah mayb they cousins or something

[@adamtorres833]

I clicked because I thought it was Octavia Spencer lol

[@NubbyG05]

The lady portraying Ma Rainey is OUTSTANDING! 👏👏👏👏

[@Joshlyn99]

That is the one and only Ms. Felicia Fields of the Color Purple on Broadway.

[@NubbyG05]

@@Joshlyn99 She's incredible...….thank you!

[@samanthacaine5029]

WHO PLAYS MA RAINEY HERE?....SHE DID A EXCELLENT JOB!!!! THEY ALL DID!!

[@trethethird_]

Her name is Felcia P. Fields! She even played Sofia in The Color Purple on Broadway!

[@bOmBAsTiK]

She seems more suited to the role than Viola Davis...

[@isaacpaulmaceo5502]

@@bOmBAsTiK na viola was most definitely better

[@soulsnackbecauseidonteatmu4341]

@@isaacpaulmaceo5502 they were both amazing and both did it according to the set/form. Theatre and TV.

[@Jester_jesse83]

The costumes are fantastic. And the storytelling makes me want to see more.

[@Joshlyn99]

Go ahead Ms. Felicia. Love it. Love you.

[@HawkinaBox]

That actress playing Ma is so amazing

[@lr8719]

GOSH, I MISS STAGE PRODUCTIONS 😢!

[@eaqua56]

Same!

[@rohay8146]

THE COSTUME MAKERS KILLIN' IT

[@val9170]

Good acting

[@saschastella6795]

Very good acting! I need more !

[@val9170]

@@saschastella6795 yesss

[@kiara198923]

I thought that was Octavia Spencer...

[@lovickn5403]

Ma' DAMN rainey !!!

[@Strawberries0000]

I wish could've gone to see this at a theater!!

[@tommytedford8966]

What is this? This scene alone make me wanna watch the whole play!! The ending on q boy.. "well tell it then..but tell it right"❤️❤️ I loved it

[@ladennayoung2939]

Viola did a really good job on that part.

[@takingitonedayatatime7851]

Octavia Spencer long lost sister.😎😂❤👏

[@nikradik]

Those coats..omg

[@itztayy1739]

This was good

[@juliana-taylorcabrera4094]

I hated the way the Netflix movie ended it was to short and didn't really show Ma that much

[@rennimagee4016]

It's a play lol,

[@itsnice420]

@@rennimagee4016 There's a movie too.

[@WhoToldYouThatAtlanta]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 bravo excellent I’d love to see an entire show

[@MG-du9vx]

Awesome!!

[@PhantomLyric]

Wowwwww!

[@NicoRaimont]

I like how this is shot

[@corneliuswhite5139]

Wow!

[@bobbyj7904]

AWESOME✨🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@gloriahodge255]

Interesting......

[@MrBlackretreat]

This actress should have been in the movie .... much more natural not a mockery

[@bOmBAsTiK]

I feel you, maybe Octavia Spencer would've even played it more naturally. Something was off in Viola's performance. I thought they could've found a better choice than Chadwick as well, although they both were decent.

[@lacecocoa6272]

@@bOmBAsTiK I feel like it's always weird if they have to put on a fake body suit that is not for you I feel like Paula Davis face structure didn't fit it she didn't have the right accent she didn't sound like a woman that was living in the 1920s she didn't sound like she was from the south it just was very it was a no and that's why I couldn't watch the movie I was turned off and the face bodysuit just rub me the wrong way and then her greased up it was just weird. They should have just got Behavior set woman to play my Rainey because she wasn't heavier-set woman and a woman with sticker features Viola Davis even though she's black true enough her features were not as Broad and I feel like you just should look like the person if you're kind of doing a biopic or whatever

[@KadeejiaDenise]

@@lacecocoa6272 Viola said in an interview that she was greased up because there were descriptions of Ma Rainey that said her makeup looked like grease paint under the lights and she was often sweaty. She said she did her interpretation. It was a lot to see all the time though.

[@dougfredricks2017]

😆 at Stuttering Sammy

[@zayvier69]

Who’s the actress as ma rainey?

[@smbboyer]

Queen Felicia P Fields of Chicago IL

[@lj3482]

So did I

[@kristidraine4543]

This not funny as the movie version tho at all 😂😂 the movie version is way more better then this play

[@dariusduffie8377]

Who tf asked you? It's a drama not a damn comedy

[@beautifulwoman3058]

😂