Throughout the pandemic, so many communities experienced a multitude of loss, and the Chicago theatre community is no exception. The production was set to be a warm return to the Goodman stage for Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh and seasoned Chicago director Lili-Anne Brown, whose most recent triumph of I Hate It Here has us all wondering where Brown keeps her magic wand. A survivor of police brutality, misogyny, voter suppression, and a forced hysterectomy, Hamer is a symbol of perseverance and non-violent resistance.Ĭontinue reading “‘Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer)’ returns to the Goodman Theatre, bigger and better than ever”Īfter opening on Maand enjoying five exciting previews, School Girls Or, The African Mean Girls Play closed due to national and global strictures regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. She then later launched the Freedom Farm Cooperative, which sought to buy land for black people to collectively farm and sustain black life in Mississippi. Hamer was central to the founding of both the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which fought for the political advancement of both women and people of color respectively. Written by Cheryl L West, this one-woman play with music exalts the life and workings of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Since that abridged version, the play has gone on to be enjoyed by audiences in Seattle, Washington D.C, Sarasota, Florida and Ashland, Oregon. I first saw Fannie during its tour of Chicago city parks in the fall of 2020.
And we go, I show him the South Side, you know? Continue reading “Gem of the Ocean: Chuck Smith and Wardell Julius Clark in Conversation” You know, during the day, you know, in the mornings I came up in the morning. He came to the first preview and stayed…The whole preview period and worked with me. He came to the preview and uh, you know, we got this long preview. I had worked with August, uh, I mean actually worked with him in ‘97 when I Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. So first things first – In 2003 you dramaturg’d the world premiere of Gem of the Ocean? Wardell Julius Clark previously understudied Citizen Barlow and performed in the Court Theatre production directed by Ron OJ Parson in 2015. At the time, Clark was serving as the understudy for the role of Citizen Barlow, originally played by Sharif Atkins.Ĭlark has since taken over the role of Citizen Barlow from Atkins, performing since February 11th and will continue playing the role of Citizen through closing this Sunday, February 27th, 2022.Ĭhuck Smith was the dramaturg for the world premiere of Gem of the Ocean in 2003 directed by Marion McClinton.
This interview was recorded on February 6, 2022. Actor and Director Wardell Julius Clark interviews Chuck Smith, the director of the Goodman Theatre production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean.
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