Jazz Haz Productions presents, Pity Me Blues: Bessie Smith, The Early Years, a new Musical Radio Play, at The Winchester Street Theatre. The piece is written and directed by Anthony Audain (Artistic Director and Director for The Ensemble) with Incidental Music composed by Matt Ashton (Music Team Lead, Composer, and Music Coordinator for the Company).
The show features an original title song, Pity Me Blues (in two parts), written by Anthony Audain.
Pity Me Blues: Bessie Smith, The Early Years, is a “fictional interpretive depiction” based on the pre-success life of the Blues Singer. The soul and principal themes of the show are embodied in Smith’s reflection on family, her evolution and roadie experience as an early Jazz-Blues artist, and her connection and relationship with her brother, Clarence, a guitarist.
Show Dates and Times: Wednesday and Thursday November 19th and 20th at 7:30pm at The Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester Street in the Cabbage town Neighbourhood.
Show Admission: Pay What You Can (PWYC) CASH ONLY at the door.
Bessie Smith was a trailblazing African American Blues Singer during the early 1900’s. She initially performed with the renowned Ma Rainey, prior to striking out on her own to launch an iconic career as the “Empress of the Blues”. Pity Me Blues: Bessie Smith, The Early Years takes us on a musical and dramatic exploration of those early pivotal and influential years. The Show features Andrea Davis (Bessie Smith), Tricia Williams (Ma Rainey), Sheldon Bernard (Clarence Smith, Tavern Patron, Pa Rainey), Matt Ashton (Vaudevillian Singer, Mitch Murphy, Frank Walker), Aaron De Sousa (Vaudevillian Singer); is accompanied by Matt Ashton (Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Trombone), Aaron De Sousa (Piano), Jon Field (Bass); and is conceived and directed by Anthony Audain.
Jazz Haz Productions is an independent production company offering storytelling, theatre and musical performance, and community arts workshops and engagement.
