#LACKAWANNA BLUES MOVIE#
#LACKAWANNA BLUES SERIES#

When Reuben's parents are no longer capable of taking care of him, Nanny takes the boy in as her own and he joins a house filled with wayward and eclectic drifters in Nanny's stable of extended family members. (Santiago's Hudson's childhood character). Lackawanna Blues takes place mostly in Nanny's home which serves as a rooming house, juke joint, restaurant, beauty parlor, and an orphanage of sorts to Rueben Jr. It is a trip back to days in which cornbread and beans was a feast for kings and a jukebox and a bottle of whiskey was the only thing needed to turn a living room into a nightclub.

Set just before desegregation, the film revisits an African-American community when all they had was each other. Lackawanna Blues is the screenplay adaptation of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's autobiographical one-man stage play.

#LACKAWANNA BLUES MOVIE#

This makes for a engaging collection of music that stands on its own as a compelling listening experience, even for those who haven't seen the movie that inspired it. Jackson's Impressions' styled, finger-popping 'But It's Alright' have little in common, yet comfortably share space with each other and the newly recorded tunes. The spare but lovely Piedmont acoustic picking of Etta Baker's 'One Dime Blues,' Jimmy Scott's yearning, string-drenched ballad 'If I Ever Lost You,' and J.J. The album's success lies in the way the predominantly obscure songs are sequenced. Macy Gray, Robert Bradley, and perhaps most surprisingly, Mos Def-all of whom have parts in the film-contribute updated material which ranges from the jump blues of Mos Def's 'Caledonia' to Bradley's sizzling low-down covers of Elmore James's 'One Dime Blues' and Floyd Jones's grinding 'Dark Road.' Young old-school vocalist Ricky FantвЂ™ finds a sunny groove on Magic Sam's 'That's All I Need,' and the Blind Boys of Alabama, the go-to group for gospel, bring the church on a stunning 'Faith and Grace.' Mixing new versions of old songs with originals isn't a unique concept when it comes to constructing movie music, but it's seldom been done as effectively as on this soundtrack from the 2005 HBO film Lacakawanna Blues. But as the lead character in Lackawanna Blues, Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby, Merkerson delivers a performance second only to an actual grandmother.

#LACKAWANNA BLUES SERIES#

Already a Tony Award nominee and a series regular for twelve seasons on Law & Order, Merkerson has established an extensive resume. The film also served as a career screen performance by S. The film's cast is comprised of a veritable honor roll of some of the most talented and significant Black actors working today. On February 12th 2005, many television viewers had the opportunity to witness another amazing celebration of the Black women, and a celebration of the extended Black family, during the television debut of Lackawanna Blues presented by HBO Films. We often refer back to Hattie McDaniel's portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind as a significant feat in Black film history. Having recently lost a grandmother, my senses of the role that strong Black women play in our communities and families has been heightened. To purchase 10 or more tickets, visit Broadway Inbound.Written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson (play & teleplay) and performed by Blues Hall of Fame Guitarist Junior Mack, Santiago-Hudson embodies more than 20 vibrant characters, creating a richly textured reminiscence thatвЂ™s inspiring, uplifting and right at home on Broadway. Giving a tour-de-force performance accompanied by live music written by acclaimed composer Bill Sims, Jr. In a 1950s boarding house outside Buffalo, Nanny, as she was affectionately called, opened her doors to anyone and everyone in need of kindness, hope, compassion and care. Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson returns to Manhattan Theatre Club for the Broadway debut of his brilliant solo play, Lackawanna Blues, celebrating the strong, big-hearted woman who raised him: Miss Rachel.

View all Broadway Shows and Off Broadway Shows and Events. This show played its final performance on Friday - November 12.

Lackawanna blues