THE THEATER MIRROR, New England’s LIVE Theater Guide
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MARQUEE | USHER | SEATS |
INTERMISSION | CURTAIN |
note: entire contents copyright 2004 by Carl A. Rossi
Narrator (Principal) …Hon. Milton L. Wright; Terri Taylor; Voncille Ross
Narrator … Frederick Hayes
Narration … Sele ‘Fana Kamau; Azinga Ming
Mary … Shaynah Barnes; Toni S. Jackson; Mercedes Neves; Desiree Springer-O’Neal
Joseph … Wyatt “Mo’ gee” Jackson; Bi-Kim; Frederick Hayes
with:
Voices of Black Persuasion and Children of Black Persuasion
Organ and Piano … John Andrew Ross; Pearl Allen; Stephen Hunter, Sr.
Electric Bass … John (Lennie) Bradford; Langston Smith; Tim Ingles; Thomas Hebb
African Percussion … Mamadou Ndiaye; Stephen P. O’Neal I; Stephen Korliss O’Neal II; Herbert Maisonet, Jr.; Salim A. Rahman; Darius Ware; Leon Mobley
Langston Hughes’ BLACK NATIVITY, now in its 35th season in Boston, remains as fresh and as joyous as ever. Mr. Hughes’ gospel song-play is exactly that: a celebration of the Coming and Birth of Christ, done with a minimum of plot and a maximum of song: hand-clapping, soul-stirring song. To debate whether BLACK NATIVITY is a musical, a concert or a mass is moot; it will sweep you up in its loving embrace and leave you as a round-eyed child learning the true meaning of Christmas --- spiritual, not material. I wouldn’t say BLACK NATIVITY is the one show you have to see this holiday season, but it is certainly the best one on which to end your holiday theatergoing.