“Looking for a sure cure to the blues? Latch on to a ticket for It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues. More than a musical feast… it is a potent blend of visual eloquence and historical sweep that engages the eye and touches the heart, while its songs soothe the ear, occasionally work mischief on the funny bone and always raise the spirits.” —The New York Times
From African chants and Delta spirituals…More
In 1935 Texas, Susannah, an academic and song collector for the Library of Congress, visits a high-security prison where she meets Pearl, an African-American woman imprisoned for murder who longs to leave prison and find her lost daughter. Hoping to record the treasure trove of spirituals and African folk songs that only Pearl knows—and make her reputation on the discoveries—Susannah bargains for…More
Upcoming and/or noteworthy
News from Portland Center Stage
Wednesday, May 16 Only! One Day Sale for “It Ain’t Nothin But the Blues”
15 May 2012 & Posted by Natalie Gilmore
We’re having a one day sale on tickets for “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues.” Tickets are just $30! Offer good for any available seat for performances in May. But hurry, you must purchase on May 16!
MoreSingin’ the Blues: The History of an American Genre
08 May 2012 & Posted by Kinsley Suer
It’s going to be a bluesy couple of months here at PCS. In Black Pearl Sings!, much of what Pearl sings throughout the show can be defined as blues; her music carries on the legacy of her family’s struggles while simultaneously drawing on the folk tradition of her African heritage. And, of course, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, which will explore the history and transformation of blues music, opens in just a few weeks. Luckily, our moods are anything but blue. We’re about to have two fantastic shows filled with catchy blues classics spilling out of the doors and windows of the Armory!
More- 27 Apr 2012
- The Music of Black Pearl Sings!
- 20 Apr 2012
- An Interview with Playwright Frank Higgins
Cab Calloway and The Cotton Club
03 May 2012 & Posted by Kinsley Suer
In Black Pearl Sings!, Pearl is released from prison and travels to New York City with Susannah, the song collector who has secured her release. Susannah has arranged for Pearl to perform her songs for various academic groups throughout the city. After her first concert, Pearl is inundated with attention from the “ladies of the historical society,” who take her out for a night on the town – including a stop to sing with Cab Calloway at the famed Cotton Club.
MoreThe Drama You Bring
02 May 2012 & Posted by Natalie Gilmore
Every audience member sitting in a darkened theater brings his or her own drama to the experience. It’s only natural that we’d see a play through the lens of our individual life and experiences. So of course Anna’s living space would speak volumes to an interior designer! She reads the language of fabric choices and furniture shapes as a profession. Tell us about a moment you saw in a play that sparked a particular resonance with your own life and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win tickets to Black Pearl Sings! and dinner for two at Cassidy’s!
More- 27 Apr 2012
- Ladies and Gentleman, Name Your Seat!
- 09 Apr 2012
- Inspiring a Friendship, and a Play
