Marie and Rosetta

Marie & Rosetta promotional art

Before Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Jimi Hendrix, Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s groundbreaking blend of gospel music, swing rhythms and fierce electric guitar made her an unconventional music superstar in the 1930s and 40s. Acclaimed writer George Brant (Grounded) unearths the unsung roots of the fearless “Godmother of Rock ’n’ Roll” and her wide-eyed protégée Marie Knight, as they begin their revolutionary ascent to become one of the most influential teams in music history.

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HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED

HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED

HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED follows Wilson’s journey as a young Black writer from Pittsburgh to one of the most celebrated American playwrights of the 20th century. Written three years before his death, the one-man show recounts numerous stories from the author’s long career and the lessons they taught about what it means to be a Black artist in America.

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MKE Black Theatre Festival

Black Arts MKE is proud to again present the MKE Black Theatre Festival. The three-week-long celebration of Black arts and culture features ticketed and free events including two full-productions, play development workshop, audition masterclass, Black Nativity by Langston Hughes auditions, reflections on Black History with Everett Marshburn, poetry set & more!

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