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Arts & Entertainment

'Blues For an Alabama Sky' Takes on Hot-Button Topics from the '30s--and Today

''I still believe that theatre has a ritual power to call forth the spirits, illuminate the darkness and speak the truth to the people.'' --Pearl Cleage

In the 1930s, the Harlem Renaissance was forced aside by the Great Depression. Marking that period were rising social and political issues such as planned parenthood, the economy, religion and homosexuality. These issues still rear their heads today.

Those and other hot button topics are what inspired local Atlanta author Pearl Cleage to pen her play "Blues for an Alabama Sky." This drama, with its touches of humor, was first produced here in Atlanta in 1995. It ran again in 1996 during the 1996 Olympic Games, as a part of what was called the “ Cultural Olympiad.”

During the weekends of Nov. 11 through 13 and 18 though 20, you can enjoy a current production of this play at the Lionheart Theatre in downtown Norcross. Directed by Nicole Littlejohn Jackson, "Blues for an Alabama Sky" promises to bring some thought-provoking themes to our Norcross stage. 

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Jackson says that she’s glad to be directing this play because, “It’s interesting to delve into the different mindsets of people who live in the same community. Within the same race and culture you find so many differences.” She thinks that people today are still tiptoeing around some of the same issues that they were back in the 1930s.

The cast for the production includes: Isa J. Miles (Angel-recently fired Cotton Club back-up singer), Dennis Bayne (Guy-a popular costume designer), Shannon Mayers (Delia-hard-working staff member at the Sanger clinic), Roderick E. Jackson (Sam-Jazz-loving doctor at Harlem Hospital) and Roger Ferrier (Leland-recent transplant from Tuskegee, Alabama).

Find out what's happening in Norcrosswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Try and make it to the Lionheart Theatre during one of the next two weekends and prepare to tiptoe along with the cast, through these long standing social issues as you enjoy this production of Blues for an Alabama Sky

Tickets: Adults $15, Students & Seniors $12

Nov. 11 to 20
Fri. & Sat. 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 2 p.m.

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