MEMPHIS
SOUL Memphis
Soul (The Story of Stax Records)
Memphis
Soul takes audiences back to 1980 and a fictitious 20th Anniversary Stax
Concert. The fictional Pop's Place, a restaurant across the street
from the legendary Stax Records, serves as the backdrop to deliver more
of the Stax soulful sounds. This exciting, energetic, dance filled production
honors the great music of legendary Stax artists, including Mavis Staples,
Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers,
Sam and Dave and Booker T. and the MG's.
If
Motown was smooth then Stax was rough and gritty. Stax gave the nation
(and world) with that sweet Southern Soul. Stax Records holds a critical
place in American music history as one of the most popular soul music record
labels of all time - second only to Motown in sales and influence, but
first in gritty, raw, Southern-steeped soul music. Stax placed more than
167 hit songs in Billboard's Hot 100 pop charts as well as a staggering
243 hits on the R&B charts. (Ms Genevieve)
The
musical team deftly recreats the soulful Stax sound. The design team,
technical director and stage manager place you there in space, sound and
time. You'll love it.
The
Black Ensemble Theater is one of Chicago's greatest treasures. Jackie
has written some of the most soulful plays of all times including the Other
Cinderella, Somebody Say Amen, At Last: (A Tribute To Etta James), Precious
Lord Take My Hand and The Jackie Wilson Story. Take your mom.
Take your dad. Take your teanagers - they will thank you and remember it
forever.
Performances
of Memphis Soul (The Music of Stax Records) are: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m..;
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Performances
take place at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon, Chicago.
Tickets, priced at $40 are on sale at the Black Ensemble Theater Box Office
at 773-769-4451 or Ticketmaster at 312-902-1500, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups.
Memphis
Soul (The Story of Stax Records)
Black
Ensemble Theater (www.blackensembletheater.org)
4520
N. Beacon St.
Chicago,
Illinois
Sundays:
3 p.m. Thursdays: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: 8
p.m.
Price:
$35-$40
Box
office: 773-769-4451
MORE
ABOUT JACKIE TAYLOR .....
Jackie
Taylor was born in Chicago and was raised in the Cabrini Green housing
project. She rose from modest roots to become a distinguished actress,
singer, director, playwright and theater founder. As the Founder of the
Black Ensemble Theater, she has created a strong institution recognized
throughout the nation for its outstanding, original productions and dedication
to its mission of eradicating racism. Black Ensemble Theater is listed
as one of the top 25 theaters in the country in the 2005 Encyclopedia Britannica
Almanac.
Taylor
began producing her own shows as early as 1973. She also starred in television
and films, and appeared in major theatrical productions. While she was
earning respect as an actress, Taylor felt that a voice for the Black community
needed to be heard in the theatrical world. She founded the Black Ensemble
Theater in 1976 with a $1,200 loan and has built the Theater into a $1.4
million cultural institution.
