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Black Nativity
By Langston Hughes
Adapted & Directed by McKinley Hughes
Musical Director/Composer/Arranger Jaret Williams
Choreographer Lisa Johnson Willingham
Produced by Congo Square Theatre
At Chicago Center for the Performing Arts (Green Street Theater)
777N Green Street
Chicago, IL
Call 312-733-6000, tickets $20 -$40
Fridays at 7:30
Saturdays at 2 & 7;30pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 90 minutes without intermission
Through December 28, 2008
Slimmed down Black Nativity still holds an emotional thrust
The relocation of Congo Square’s terrific Black Nativity from the Goodman Theatre to the Green Street Theater necessitated a reduction in the set and cast. This slimmed-down production has been trimmed down in both content, scope and cast members. Under McKinley Johnson’s reductions, Black Nativity covers African American scripture’s interruption of the birth of Jesus through poetry, dance and song. Filled with emotionally wrenching Gospel songs sung with extreme heart, Black Nativity is more than just a fine family holiday treat—it is an exuberant theatrical experience.
Lead by Jesse Dean Stanford as the Angel Gabriel, we see Mary (Emily Butts) and Joseph (Peter Gaona) dance exquisitely ballets (choreographed by Lisa Johnson Willingham) in the telling of the Nativity story. Alexis J. Rogers, Bryon Glenn Willis, Rueben D. Echoles and Melvia “Chick: Rodgers deftly sang the joyous gospel tunes in praise of the lord.
McKinley Johnson’s adaptation is a testament to the power of gospel music as the voices raise high with emotional verve. One can not experience Black Nativity without being moved emotionally as witness by the loud reactions by several audience members.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2008
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