Published by

Playbill, American, founded 1884

Used by

Royale Theatre, American, founded 1927

Subject of

Rainey, Ma, American, 1886 - 1939

Wilson, August, American, 1945 - 2005

Dutton, Charles S., American, born 1951

Goldberg, Whoopi, American, born 1955

Byrd, Thomas Jefferson, American, born 1941

Cucci, Tony, American, born 1961

Davidson, Jack

Gordon, Carl, American, 1932 - 2010

Henderson, Stephen McKinley, American, born 1949

Mackie, Anthony, American, born 1979

Simms, Heather Alicia, American, born 1970

Zorich, Louis, American, born 1924

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 8 1/2 x 5 3/8 in. (21.6 x 13.7 cm)

Type

theater programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2003

Description

Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. White background with yellow box at top; photograph below depicts a man wearing a fedora and holding a trumpet while a woman in the background sings into a microphone. [PLAYBILL/ROYALE THEATRE/MA RAINEY'S/BLACK BOTTOM/WWW.PLAYBILL.COM] White circular sticker on back, handwritten 1984.

Topic

African American

Actors

Blues (Music)

Broadway Theatre

Drama (Theatre)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kayla Deigh Owens

Object number

2011.45.61ab

Restrictions & Rights

Playbill used by permission. All rights reserved, Playbill Inc.

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published by

Playbill, American, founded 1884

Used by

Royale Theatre, American, founded 1927

Subject of

Rainey, Ma, American, 1886 - 1939

Wilson, August, American, 1945 - 2005

Dutton, Charles S., American, born 1951

Goldberg, Whoopi, American, born 1955

Byrd, Thomas Jefferson, American, born 1941

Cucci, Tony, American, born 1961

Davidson, Jack

Gordon, Carl, American, 1932 - 2010

Henderson, Stephen McKinley, American, born 1949

Mackie, Anthony, American, born 1979

Simms, Heather Alicia, American, born 1970

Zorich, Louis, American, born 1924

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 8 1/2 x 5 3/8 in. (21.6 x 13.7 cm)

Type

theater programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2003

Description

Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. White background with yellow box at top; photograph below depicts a man wearing a fedora and holding a trumpet while a woman in the background sings into a microphone. [PLAYBILL/ROYALE THEATRE/MA RAINEY'S/BLACK BOTTOM/WWW.PLAYBILL.COM] White circular sticker on back, handwritten 2003.

Topic

African American

Actors

Blues (Music)

Broadway Theatre

Drama (Theatre)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kayla Deigh Owens

Object number

2011.45.60

Restrictions & Rights

Playbill used by permission. All rights reserved, Playbill Inc.

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

National Black Theatre, American, founded 1968

Subject of

Taylor, Clarice, American, 1917 - 2011

Mabley, Moms, American, 1897 - 1975

Washington, Dinah, American, 1924 - 1963

Holiday, Billie, American, 1915 - 1959

Jackson, Mahalia, American, 1911 - 1972

Rainey, Ma, American, 1886 - 1939

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W x D (Closed): 8 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 1/16 in. (21.6 × 14 × 0.2 cm)

H x W (Open): 8 1/2 × 12 in. (21.6 × 30.5 cm)

Type

programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

2003

Description

Program for "An Evening of Comedy With Jackie Moms Mabley and Her Ladies," written by and starring Clarice Taylor. The performance was presented by the National Black Theatre, Inc. from April 17-May 25, 2003. At the top of the cover is a band in a gradient from black to white with black text. It reads [NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE, INC. / Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, Founder & CEO / Mabil Falson & Jackie Jeffries Associate Producers]. Below is a black and white photographic image of Clarice Taylor dressed for her role as Moms Mabley. Taylor is wearing a floppy hat, house dress, and large, unbuttoned shirt. Behind her is a brick wall with [MOMS] written in white. The "o" in Moms is a heart. Black text on the bottom half reads [AN EVENING OF COMEDY WITH / JACKIE MOMS MABLEY / AND HER LADIES / WRITTEN BY & STARRING / CLARICE TAYLOR / FEATURING / JOHN STANLEY / APRIL 17TH THROUGH MAY 25TH, 2003]. Other actresses portrayed Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Mahalia Jackson, and Ma Rainey in the show. The program includes cast biographies and information about the National Black Theatre.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Actors

Comedy

Comedy (Theatre)

Entertainers

Singers (Musicians)

Women

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of William and James Thomas and family in memory of Clarice Taylor

Object number

2013.188.37

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published by

Playbill, American, founded 1884

Used by

Cort Theatre, American, founded 1912

Subject of

Rainey, Ma, American, 1886 - 1939

Wilson, August, American, 1945 - 2005

Dutton, Charles S., American, born 1951

Jackson, Leonard, American, born 1928

Judd, Robert, American, died 1986

Seneca, Joe, American, 1919 - 1996

Criscuolo, Lou, American, born 1934

Carpenter, John, American, born 1948

Mitchell, Aleta

Davenport-Richards, Scott

Loomis, Christopher

Merritt, Theresa, American, 1922 - 1998

Medium

ink on paper

Dimensions

H x W: 8 1/2 x 5 3/8 in. (21.6 x 13.7 cm)

Type

theater programs

Place used

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1984

Description

Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. White background with yellow box at top; black box below with graphic of a woman in front of a microphone with her arms stretched out to her sides. [PLAYBILL/CORT THEATRE/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom] White circular sticker on back, handwirtten 1984.

Transcription Center Status

Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic

African American

Actors

Blues (Music)

Broadway Theatre

Drama (Theatre)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kayla Deigh Owens

Object number

2011.45.59

Restrictions & Rights

Playbill used by permission. All rights reserved, Playbill Inc.

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Memorabilia and Ephemera

Exhibition

Taking the Stage

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 054

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture