Blues for an Alabama Sky

By  PEARL CLEAGE Directed by VALERIE CURTIS-NEWTON

Joy. Struggle. That’s why they call it the blues.

New York in the summer of 1930. The hopeful notes of the Harlem Renaissance haven’t rung true for Angel, a failed Cotton Club singer, and her group of friends. Could their fortunes change at the hands of a handsome newcomer from Tuskegee, who sees in Angel a memory of lost love and a reminder of Alabama skies where the stars are so thick it’s bright as day?

On stage

September 7 – 25, 2022

Run Time

Approximately 2 hours, 25 minutes (including intermission)

PlayBill

Desktop Version | Mobile Version

Age Recommendation

12 + due to mature themes surrounding Women’s Health

Features

Enjoy this tell-all interview with our award-winning returning guest director, Valerie Curtis-Newton.
See interview ↗
Check out this WHUP interview with “Blues for an Alabama Sky” dramaturg, Jacqueline Lawton! Start at 30.51 for an inside scoop on what makes this play so special.
See interview ↗

Photos

Reviews

PlayMakers Repertory Company’s “Blues for an Alabama Sky” Offers a Haunting, Poignant View of 1930s’ Harlem
Triangle Arts Review
by Susie Potter
September 11, 2022

Spoilers Ahead: “Blues for An Alabama Sky” At Playmakers: Superbly Crafted (5/5 Stars)
Spectacular Magazine
by Lauren Taylor
September 12, 2022

Cleage’s “Blues” Proves Timely and Timeless
Chatham Life & Style
by Serayah Silver
September 21, 2022

Artists

Valerie Curtis-Newton
Director
Pearl Cleage
Playwright
André G. Brown
Actor
Heinley Gaspard
Actor
Tia James
Actor
Jamar Jones
Actor
Saleemah Sharpe
Actor
Matthew Smucker
Creative Team
Melanie Burgess
Creative Team
Marcus Dilliard
Creative Team
Larry D. Fowler, Jr.
Creative Team
Jacqueline E. Lawton
Creative Team
Gwendolyn Schwinke
Creative Team
Sarah Smiley
Creative Team
Aspen Blake Jackson
Creative Team

Related Posts

Vivienne Benesch, Producing Artistic Director, PlayMakers Repertory Company
A Note from Vivienne about “Blues for an Alabama Sky”
Welcome to PlayMakers’ 2022/2023 season opener, Pearl Cleage’s seminal work, “Blues for an Alabama Sky.” Pearl’s writing stirs the soul, and her beautiful exploration of a group of young dreamers in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance resonates with a timelessness that is found only in the best of theatre.
Behind-the-costumes
“I’m not a lover of clothes, necessarily, but I really love telling stories,” says Melanie Burgess, the guest costume designer for “Blues for an Alabama […]
Where did you get that hat?
“I am responsible for everything that’s not made by a tailor or a dressmaker...and if I’ve done my job well, the audience isn’t going to know anybody did it.”