New Play at American Players Theatre Celebrates the Music, Life and Times of Ma Rainey

By Elim Eyobed, Simpson Street Free Press

On a warm, sunny Sunday morning, a group of SSFP reporters left the newsroom and made our way to American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This was our second trip to APT this summer, and we were ready to watch “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” by playwright August Wilson.

We arrived at APT just before noon, for a private Q&A session with director Gavin Dillon Lawrence. Students had the opportunity to ask Lawrence questions about the show and his experience directing. Lawrence told us that the most difficult part of directing and staging this production was that “the play by August Wilson was originally meant to be performed inside, and we are putting it on outside.” He said they worked a lot on how to transport the setting of an indoor recording studio to an outdoor stage.

When asked about what inspired him while directing this play, Lawrence answered that it was the resilience of his cast, specifically lead actress Greta Oglesby, who portrayed Ma Rainey. According to Lawrence, several members of the cast experienced personal hardships and family emergencies, and Oglesby even had to travel home at times between rehearsals. What inspired Lawrence was the cast's commitment to the production and that amidst personal difficulties, everyone showed up ready to put their all into the show.

This resilience the cast showed offstage shone through during their performance on stage and through their characters.

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