UW Madison Theatre and Drama Associate Professor Patrick Sims will make his University Theatre directing debut with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the Tony Award-winning play that launched August Wilson’s ten-play chronicle of African American life in the 20th century. Cast members include UW Madison graduate and undergraduate students and guest artist Alfred Wilson in the role Toledo. Inspired by the real-life Mother of the Blues, Gertrude “Ma” Rainey Pridgett, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom takes place over a single day of making music, making jokes and making deals. University Theatre’s production runs March 2 through 17, 2012 in Vilas Hall’s Mitchell Theatre.

Wilson’s story takes place in 1927 Chicago and with the Jazz Age in full swing; it’s a moment full of possibility as well as risk for Ma Rainey and her band of less-than-merry musicians. The play follows a contentious recording session with Ma, her band and the white producer and manager who seem to make a better living on Ma’s music than she does. As the musical legend fights to hang onto control of the direction of her music, her ambitious young trumpet player struggles to carve out his own place in the spotlight. The play both explores and embodies the essence of the blues, with its characters intertwining, riffing and improvising variations on a theme to form a tight musical combo.

“When you look at the canon of African American dramatic literature, no other playwright has accomplished what August Wilson has done with his 20th Century Cycle,” explains Sims. “When you consider the humanity of his characters and the challenges they face which are unique in many ways to their cultural and ethnic origin, I think you get a better glimpse of the staying power of a group of people that should never have succeeded in any cultural, social or economic aspect of life in this country.  For me therein lies the lesson and beauty of Wilson's work. We get to see the triumph and pitfalls of what it means to be human through a different lens.”

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will run March 2-17 in the Mitchell Theatre, 821 University Avenue. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m.  A free symposium related to the production and co-sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Drama and the Department of African American Studies is slated for Saturday, March 3.  A post-performance discussion with the cast is scheduled for Thursday, March 15. Individual tickets for all performances are $22 general public or $15 for UW students.  Discounts are available for senior citizens, and Friends of University Theatre.  Purchase tickets by phone at (608) 265-ARTS (2787), in person at the Vilas Hall Box Office, 821 University Ave., the Wisconsin Union Box Office, 800 Langdon St., or order on-line; buy tickets and view the calendar at www.utmadison.com.