Events

Lady D returns to the Tamarack stage with her one-woman show, “Bessie’s Blues;” the abbreviated production of her original play, “The Lady and the Empress.” Based on the life and music of the Empress of the Blues, “Bessie’s Blues” differs from the original show only in the length and the use of only one musician. Saturday, November 3, 2018, 1 PM – 3:30 PM

Relive the 20’s and 30’s along with Bessie as she recalls life on the “Chitlin’ Circuit” and the Jim Crow South. Hear tunes that may sound familiar as they have been covered by many artists over the past almost 100 years. Songs like “Dirty No-Gooders Blues,” “I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “Gimme A Pigfoot.” are staples of the Bessie Smith catalogue.

Bessie Smith earned the title of “Empress of the Blues” by virtue of her forceful vocal delivery and command of the genre. Her singing displayed a soulfully phrased, boldly delivered and nearly definitive grasp of the blues. In addition, she was an all-around entertainer who danced, acted and performed comedy routines with her touring company. She was the highest-paid black performer of her day and arguably reached a level of success greater than that of any African-American entertainer before her.

This event is FREE to the public!