Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 30, 2009, edition 1 / Page 42
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Fhe life of the extraordinary Ethel Waters is examined in alori ous fashion in "Sweet Mama Stringbean," the acclaimed New Federal Theatre's contribution to this year's NBTF. Waters' ascension to super-stardom began around 1919 when she moved to Harlem to hone her stellar singing and acting abili Aug. 4 at B p.m. Aug. 5 at 3 SB p.m. at UNCSA's Catawba Ticket Price: *37 K / ties, bhe wasn t yet 25, but the Chester, Fa., native naa \ already lived quite a life. Born in poverty to a 12 year-old rape vic / tim, Waters strug gled to find accept ance, love and affec / tion, even from her owr> mother. She had a short-lived marriage to an abusive man when she was just 1 3. Singing became her escape. Written by Beth Turner, "Sweet Mama Stringbean" gives audiences a unique look at Waters' life by employing two actresses (one a vouna Ethel ana the other the more senior Waters) to play the legend. Stage veteran Sandra Reaves-Phillips and her real-life daughter, Marishka Shanice Phillips, took the theater world by storm last year when the musical made its debut in New York. Sweet/ Mama "Sandra Reaves-Phillips is a potent power house of a performer; sne twinkles ana shim mers knowingly with every note she sings ... Marishka Shanice Phillips is likewise talented, and gor geous to boot," one reviewer wrote. Several other tal ents help director Elizabeth Van Dyke bring this musical to life. The music and singing are amaz ing. The duo of Reaves-Phillips and Phillips deliver clas sic Waters hits with power, style and ?race. They even uet on tunes such as "Stormy Weather" and "Am I Blue?" Sandra Reaves-Phillips Waters was given the nickname "Sweet Mama Stringbean" as a young woman because of her slim figure. The musical shows Waters* inner turmoil as her stringbean shape became potato-like. Marishka Shanice Phillips has shown her Musical" and Young Irene in "Bubblin' Brown Sugar." She's had role on television shows like "A Different World," and "The Cosby Show" and sung back-up for people like Diddy talents on stage, television and the big screen. On stage, she's played roles such as Mabefwashington in a national tour of "Fame: The ana Lece winans on bti ana MTV. Her silver-screen credits include "Out of Sync," "Do the Right Thing" and director John Singleton's remake of "Shaft." Sandra Reaves-Phillips is probably familiar to most for her role as music teacher Mrs. Powers in the film "Lean on Me." The Mullins, S.C., native also had a memorable role in the film "Round Midnight." The stage, though, is where she Phillips became a star. Reaves-Phillips recently received a Drama League Recognition Award for Outstanding Performer for the Broadway show "Rollin' on the T.O.B.A." Other stage credits include the Tony-winnina "Raisin," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "The^est Little Whore House in Texas." NBTF audiences should get more than their fill of Reaves Phillips tnis year. She is also slated to star in "It Ain't Notnin' But the Blues." - The Chronicle Truliant is a proud sponsor of the National Black Theatre Festival Visit one of our convenient locations to learn about the benefits of member-ownership! TRUil ANT hedeml Credit Union I ruliantl C l .or? In \N iiision-S;ilfiii: v'nn Inili.ini W.i>. ^oo \Wm nIi Suvci K i \ I At buiKliii'j ). S'M North I ilvrl> Street. ""NO North Point Hi.. In ( Iciiintoiis: 4 1 (M? ( kinnions Ro.iil Iii KrnuTs\ ilk-: "MMi I'inev iew Drive. Suite II" ( Mliei locations i In ? ?? i ? ? lu ?n t North ( .irolma. South t .inn na. .uul \ ir^inta NCUA
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 30, 2009, edition 1
42
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