By August Wilson

Directed by Ashley Renee Southers
August 15th – 24th 30th 2025
Madison Arts Center cabaret space

Our entire run of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom sold out, including our added performance! Thank you for supporting our work!

Set during a single afternoon in the recording studio of the famous blues singer Ma Rainey, this classic is the first of Wilson’s ten-play American Century Cycle, now considered a staple of American theater. Presented in our new ground-floor Madison Arts Center cabaret space.

“Cotten … has the swagger and the gravitas to carry the demanding role. Levee is a young man brimming with testosterone and rage, and Akeem is phenomenal in the role. His anger is visceral.”
– Michael Buzzelli, Burgh Vivant

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be presented as part of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle Experience, three August Wilson classics, all running in August 2025 at Madison Arts Center and August Wilson House. Each performance runs approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.

“Ashley Renee Southers makes an impressive debut directing this technically challenging work…. Cotten is formidable as the domineering, take-no-prisoners Ma, Akeem is prickly, flinty, and hot-blooded (in more ways than one) as Levee, and Timbers, Dickson, and Minniefield are fantastic!”
– Wendy Aarons, Pittsburgh Tatler

Reviews: Burgh Vivant, Pittsburgh Tatler, Trib Live, onStage Pittsburgh

Featuring

Production photos by Mark Clayton Southers.

“August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Originally produced by Yale Repertory Theatre (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director).
Initially presented at the 1982 National Playwrights’ Conference by The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center.