THE DEVIL'S MUSIC
The Life of Bessie Smith
The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith dramatizes the turbulent story of the legendary “Empress of the Blues,” whose life was as large and as outrageous as her talent. The play re-imagines Bessie’s final electrifying evening after she and her band are turned away by a whites-only theatre. It all takes place in 1937 in a Memphis “buffet flat,” where the partying, laughter, and bawdiness all come together to deliver an entertaining, unforgettable, and surprisingly touching evening. The Devil’s Music explodes with best of the songs that Bessie Smith made famous, including “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Baby Doll,” and “Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do.”
“One of the Top-Ten Off-Broadway Experiences!”
New York Daily News
“The defiant energy and musical brilliance of ‘the Empress’ shines through in this affectionate portrayal.”
The Wall Street Journal
“Aching, boozy, tempestuous, raw and moving … undeniably powerful … divine!”
The Miami Herald
“Eye-opening … spellbinding … should not, under any circumstances, be missed!”
The Palm Beach Post
“Enthralled the crowd for 90 uninterrupted minutes!”
The Hartford Courant