Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

GRETA OGLESBY most recently starred as Caroline in Caroline, or Change at the Guthrie Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Five Fingers of Funk, and Beggars’ Strike (Children’s Theatre Company); The Piano Lesson, Dinah Was, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, A Love Song for Miss Lydia, and Black Nativity (Penumbra Theatre); Gem of the Ocean, The Tempest, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Winter’s Tale and Two Gentlemen of Verona (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Crowns (Guthrie Theatre); Salt Fish and Bakes (Mixed Blood Theatre); and Once On This Island, King Lear, The Furies (Ten Thousand Things Theatre.)

A.C. SMITH is always and forever grateful to be back at Court Theatre. This production marks his fifth show with this wonderful company—Fences (Jeff Award–Actor in a Principal Role), The First Breeze of Summer, The Piano Lesson, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Smith, a Chicago native, has performed in many theaters here, including Victory Gardens Theatre, Timeline Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, Illinois Theatre Center, Second City, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Smith has also performed in many regional theatres all across the country. When not in Chicago, he can often be seen performing at the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, where he has been a member for over seventeen years, and is a nine time Woody King Jr. Award winner. God bless.

ALFRED H. WILSON is happy to be returning to Court Theatre. Recent credits include August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati), and Radio Golf (Pittsburgh Public Theatre). Chicago credits include Bourbon at the Border (Eclipse Theatre), Panther Burn (MMPAACT), Jitney and Two Trains Running (Pegasus Players), where he was awarded a Jeff Citation as best actor. He has also worked at the Goodman Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre, and is a co-founder of Onyx Theatre Ensemble.

CEDRIC YOUNG has worked at most of Chicago’s theatres as well as many regional houses. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is his debut on Court Theatre’s stage. Most recently he played Jesse in I Just Stopped By to See the Man at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Some other roles include: Troy in Fences, also directed by Mr. Parson, Walter Lee in A Raisin In the Sun, Turnbo in Jitney, Bynum in Joe Turner’s Come & Gone, Crixus in Coming of the Hurricane, and Sam in Master Harold & the Boys. Cedric has also appeared in many films and television series.

THOMAS J. COX happily returns to Court Theatre, where he has appeared in Fräulein Else, Raisin, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Thom is a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre Company, where he has done over thirty productions since 1988, most recently as Hook in Peter Pan (a play). Other credits include Northlight Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, and House Theatre (among many). Directing: Lookingglass Theatre Company, Eclipse Theatre, Piven Theatre Workshop. Film/Television: Since You’ve Been Gone (Miramax Films); Brotherhood (Showtime); Chi-Girl (TriShore Entertainment Inc). Love to Chris and Joanie.

STEPHEN SPENCER made his Court debut last season in Wait Until Dark. Chicago productions include Congo Square’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Goodman) and The House that Jack Built. As an Associate Artist at Chicago Dramatists he’s performed in countless new play readings and the Jeff Award winning The Liquid Moon. As a founding member of The Shakespeare Project he’s directed or performed in over 30 plays of the Canon. He’s worked regionally and overseas, touring throughout Russia, including Moscow’s Leninsky Komsomol Theatre. He also performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Recent film: Public Enemies; Morning Due (Cannes 2008) Son of America, and Greg’s Leg.

KRISTY JOHNSON is thrilled to make her Court Theatre debut. Previous credits include: A Song for Coretta (Eclipse Theatre Company), It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (Touring Company, American Theater Company), I Am Who I Am: The Story of Teddy Pendergrass (Black Ensemble Theatre), The Trial (eta Creative Arts Foundation) and others. In 2008, she received a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Most Promising Actress. Kristy is a graduate of Harvard University.

KELVIN ROSTON, JR. is elated to be back on Court Theater's stage. He was last seen here as Sylvester in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Kelvin's Chicago credits include: The Nativity, Saint James Infirmary, The Old Settler, Drip, Get Ready, Pill Hill (BTAA winner/best actor in an ensemble ), Nothing But the Blues, Those Sensational, Soulful 60's, and others. Regional credits include: Ruined, Death and the Kings Horsemen, Before it Hits Home, Dreamgirls, The Last Days of Judus, and others. Kelvin is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

JAMES T. ALFRED makes his Court Theatre debut in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. This also marks his third of August Wilson’s ten play cycle. Other Wilson credits include Jitney and Fences, both directed by Obie Award Winning Director Lou Bellamy. Regional credits include The Glass Menagerie (Steppenwolf Theatre), To Kill a Mockingbird (Arizona Theatre Company/KC Rep), RedShirts (Penumbra/Round House Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (American Repertory Theatre), and The Baccae (Moscow Art Studio Theatre). James T. Alfred is a graduate of the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University and holds an M.F.A in Acting from the Moscow Art Theatre School.

DAVID CHRZANOWSKI is delighted to be working with Court Theatre for the first time. Other Chicago productions include work at: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Victory Gardens, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Lifeline, Silk Road Theatre Project, The Goodman Theatre, and Apple Tree Theatre. Regional work includes stops at: Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (six seasons), Kentucky Shakespeare (four seasons), Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Performance Network in his home town of Ann Arbor, and many colleges throughout the Midwest.