Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mar 28 – May 3, 2026 in Goodman's Albert Theatre

Around 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission

EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND THROUGH MAY 3!

“The more music you got in the world, the fuller it is.”

Ma Rainey’s band is waiting. It’s 1927 Chicago, and “The Mother of the Blues” takes her time getting ready to record. Tensions and temperatures rise as the musicians recount tales of rage, joy, betrayal and faith in astonishing stories and a heart-stopping climax. Chicago legends Chuck Smith and Harry J. Lennix reunite for the play that smashed box office records in its 1997 Goodman premiere for this major revival of “a genuine American masterpiece” (Chicago Reader).

Recommended for ages 14+

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom contains themes of racism and includes racial slurs (the N-word), strong profanity, acts of violence, intimate moments of kissing and discussions about sexual content.

Associate Director and Music Director Harry Lennix describes what its like to work with actors who are “crafty, clever and talented” and how “this music is a part of all of us”.

August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has been extended by popular demand! Don’t miss the revival of this epic production.

Acclaimed actress E. Faye Butler (MA RAINEY) on why Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is “a classic August Wilson piece with a different edge.”

Buy Tickets

Group Tickets: Now available for 10+, email Groups@GoodmanTheatre.org for information on select discounted rates and perks.

Questions? Need help? Contact the box office at (312) 443-3800, 12noon – 5pm, daily.

Creative Artists

Choose someone to see their bio and past Goodman productions.

August Wilson

Playwright

Harry Lennix

Associate Director/Music Director

Chuck Smith

Director

A man with a shaved head and slight stubble looks into the camera, wearing a black jacket, standing in front of a blurred outdoor background.

Scott Aiello

Policeman / Understudy Sturdyvant

A woman with curly, highlighted hair wearing a black turtleneck sweater, looking at the camera with a slight smile against a light background.

E. Faye Butler

Ma Rainey

A middle-aged man with a shaved head, trimmed gray beard, and mustache, wearing a light green collared shirt, looks directly at the camera against a plain background.

David Alan Anderson

Cutler

A bald man with light skin and green eyes wearing a blue collared shirt looks directly at the camera against a black background.

Matt DeCaro

Sturdyvant

A middle-aged man with short dark hair wearing a light blue shirt and grey suit jacket, smiling at the camera against a plain background.

Marc Grapey

Irvin

A woman with straight black hair, wearing hoop earrings and a blue blazer, stands against a beige textured wall, looking confidently at the camera.

Tiffany Renee Johnson

Dussie Mae

A man with short curly hair and a trimmed beard wears a beige knit collared shirt and gold chain, facing the camera against a light background.

Jabari Khaliq

Sylvester

A man wearing a white cardigan, white shirt, and gold chain sits facing the camera with a neutral expression.

Al’Jaleel McGhee

Levee

A man with short hair and a light blue collared shirt looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Kelvin Roston, Jr.

Toledo

An older man with short gray hair and a mustache looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. He is wearing a dark shirt.

Cedric Young

Slow Drag

A person with short hair and brown skin looks at the camera, wearing a brown scarf and a dangling earring, with a neutral background.

Wydetta Carter

Understudy Ma Rainey

A middle-aged man with short dark hair wearing a light blue, button-up shirt, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Robert Cornelius

Understudy Toledo

A woman with long dark hair and brown eyes, wearing a sleeveless, high-collar green top, poses in front of a plain dark background.

Isis Elizabeth

Understudy Dussie Mae

A young man with short hair and earrings sits facing the camera, wearing a collared shirt with yellow star graphics on a dark background.

Patrick Newson Jr.

Understudy Levee / Understudy Sylvester

A man with short hair wearing a light gray shirt looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Joseph Primes

Understudy Slow Drag / Understudy Cutler

Older man with gray hair wearing a dark suit and tie, looking seriously at the camera, set against a dark background.

Ron E. Rains

Understudy Irvin / Understudy Policeman

Dwight Andrews

Orchestrations

Woman with straight dark hair wearing a black leather jacket over a red top, smiling slightly, standing in front of a green background.

Neena Arndt

Dramaturg

Anderson Edwards

Bass Coach

A person with short dark hair wears a black and white bandana, a brown corduroy shirt over a black top, and a chain necklace, posing against a plain black background.

Chels Morgan

Intimacy and Violence Assistant

A woman with straight, shoulder-length brown hair and light highlights looks directly at the camera against a plain background.

Marie Ramirez Downing

Vocal Coach

Lena Romano

2nd Line Producer

A man with short curly hair and a goatee wears a green plaid shirt over a dark t-shirt, looking at the camera against a plain light background.

Greg Geffrard

Intimacy and Violence

A woman with short curly hair, wearing a patterned red scarf and gray sweater, looks at the camera and smiles softly. The background is softly blurred.

Malkia Stampley

Line Producer

A woman with medium-length locs, wearing hoop earrings and off-shoulder clothing, smiles in front of a reddish-brown background.

Lo Williams

Assistant Director

Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen

Co-Sound Designers

Trey Brazeal

Assistant Lighting Designer

A woman with short gray hair and glasses smiles at the camera; bookshelves are visible in the background.

Linda Buchanan

Set Designer

Kim Carbone

Assistant Sound Designer

A woman with short, curly gray hair and round glasses smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black top and is positioned in front of a colorful painting.

Evelyn M. Danner

Costume Designer

A man wearing glasses and a light-colored, long-sleeve shirt stands against a dark background, smiling and looking slightly to the side.

Jared Gooding

Lighting Designer

Lauren Port

Casting Director

A person wearing glasses and a dark turtleneck sweater smiling at the camera outdoors, with a building and blue sky in the background.

Angela M. Adams

Production Stage Manager

A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a black top smiles at the camera in a close-up portrait against a neutral background.

Imani Ross

Stage Manager

A person with long brown hair, glasses, and a necklace stands smiling in front of a beige stone wall, wearing a brown square-neck top.

Hope X. Still

Stage Management Apprentice

Special Events

Pre-show programming, unique performances, and related programming.

A group of people, mostly young adults, sit and stand together in a restaurant. One person kneels at the front, smiling with arms open. Everyone appears to be enjoying themselves.

Wednesday, April 22 @ 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom College Night

College students are invited to attend a pre-show reception that includes AYCE pizza!

Use Code: COLLEGE

Concluded

Friday, April 10 @ 6:00pm – 7:15pm

Ma Rainey’s Black Affinity Night

This event is designed for those who identify as Black and offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural roots and musi…

CRITICAL PRAISE

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (OUT OF 4) “LEFT THE AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND”

Daily Herald

“CHUCK SMITH HAS ASSEMBLED AN ALL-STAR ENSEMBLE.”

BroadwayWorld

“E. FAYE BUTLER IS A FORCE.”

WGN Radio

AL’JALEEL MCGHEE’S “TONY-WORTHY PERFORMANCE IS FAR AND AWAY THE BEST OF THE YEAR.”

Chicago Tribune

“AN ENJOYABLE RIDE” WITH “POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCES”

Chicago Sun-Times

“CHUCK SMITH IS A MASTER AT TAPPING INTO THE MEAT OF EVERY PLAY HE ORCHESTRATES.”

Chicago Theatre Review

“EXCELS ON EVERY LEVEL. THE STRONGEST PRODUCTION I’VE REVIEWED THIS YEAR. IT’S POWERFUL, IMPECCABLY ACTED, AND DEEPLY MOVING.”

Splash Magazines

“A TOUR DE FORCE THROUGH AND THROUGH, AND ONE THAT SHOULDN’T BE MISSED.”

Chicago Reader

“OUTSTANDING…THE SEMINAL EVENT OF THE SPRING THEATER SEASON.”

The Times Weekly

“A MASTERPIECE TRIBUTE TO AUGUST WILSON.”

Curtain Call Chicago

“IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE A BETTER VERSION. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SHOW IS SIMPLY GREAT.”

Newcity

“PERFECTLY PITCHED AND BROADWAY-READY.”

Daily Herald

AUDIENCE PRAISE

“E. FAYE BUTLER IS A GIFT TO CHICAGO. SHE IS A MULTIFACETED GEM WHO SPARKLES EVERY TIME SHE STEPS INTO THE LIGHT.”

Erica M. via Email

“EXECUTED BRILLIANTLY!”

Nubia P. via Facebook

“THE ENTIRE CAST NEVER DISAPPOINTED…EVER.”

@mcbeebarbara via Instagram

“THE AMAZING CAST DELIVERED A COMPELLING, ENGAGING AND HIGHLY MEANINGFUL PERFORMANCE!”

Goodman Patron via Email

“WONDERFUL REVIVAL. CHUCK AND HARRY OFFER GREATER INSIGHT INTO THE POETRY THROUGH THEIR GAZE.”

Wilson C. via Facebook

“I HAVE SEEN 3 PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS OF MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. THIS WAS, BY FAR, THE BEST! OUTSTANDING IN EVERY WAY—PERFECTLY CAST AND STAGED.”

Sona K. via Email

Echoes of Chicago’s Past

Posted: March 24, 2026

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” dramaturg Neena Arndt explores the history and inspiration behind this acclaimed August Wilson play.

A woman with straight red hair and blue eyes is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a white collared shirt, a grey sweater, and gold earrings. The background is plain and light-colored.

Susan V. Booth Welcomes You to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Posted: March 24, 2026

Goodman’s Artistic Director reflects on our major revival of an August Wilson classic.

STUDY GUIDES

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Study Guide

Download the English Ma Rainey's Black Bottom study guide.

Guía De Estudio Del Título El Black Bottom de Ma Rainey

Descargue la guía de estudio en Español de El Black Bottom de Ma Rainey.

(L-R) Cedric Young, Al’Jaleel McGhee. Photo by Justin Barbin.

L-R) Tiffany Renee Johnson, Jabari Khaliq, Cedric Young, Kelvin Roston Jr., David Alan Anderson, E. Faye Butler, Matt DeCaro (above), Al’Jaleel McGhee. Photo by Justin Barbin.

(L-R) Tiffany Renee Johnson, E. Faye Butler, Cedric Young, Kelvin Roston Jr. Photo by Justin Barbin.

(L-R) Marc Grapey, E. Faye Butler, Jabari Khaliq. Photo by Justin Barbin.

(L-R) E. Faye Butler, A’Jaleel McGhee. Photo by Justin Barbin.

(L-R) Jabari Khaliq, Al’Jaleel McGhee, Cedric Young, Matt DeCaro, Kelvin Roston Jr. Photo by Justin Barbin.

Accessible & Enhanced Performances

Questions? Please contact (312) 443-3800 for voice, or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org. Visit our Accessibility Overview page for full details.

American Sign Language-Interpreted Performance
Friday, April 17 at 7:30pm

Use code SIGN for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

Touch Tour and Audio-Described Performance
Saturday, April 18
12:30pm Touch Tour & 2:00pm Performance

Use code AUDIO for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

Spanish Subtitles Performance
Saturday, April 18 at 7:30pm

Use code SPANISH for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

Open-Captioned Performance
Sunday, April 19 at 2:00pm

Use code OPEN for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)

OUR CENTENNIAL 2025/2026 Season

For a century, the Goodman has been more than a theater—it’s been the heartbeat of Chicago. Where stories come alive and move us to dream bigger and feel deeper. Here, art doesn’t just entertain you—it awakens. This is The Goodman—where humanity takes center stage. Join us for the Centennial 25/26 Season.