Northlight Theatre concludes 2022-2023 season with Marie and Rosetta
The final production of Northlight Theatre's 2022-2023 season is George Brant's "Marie and Rosetta", brought to life under the leadership of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans. This production, directed by E. Faye Butler, will run from July 6 to August 6, 2023, at the Northlight Theatre, located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.
"Marie and Rosetta" pays tribute to the life of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a pioneering figure in the world of Rock 'n Roll, whose influence is seen in legends like Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. Known for her fiery guitar skills and her thrilling fusion of gospel music with swing, Rosetta was a groundbreaker. The plot of the play revolves around Rosetta's initial rehearsal with Marie Knight, her soon-to-be partner, setting the stage for their rise as one of the most memorable duet teams in music history.
Artistic Director BJ Jones reflects on Tharpe's legacy: "Rosetta Tharpe was an important artist who never got her due. Like Nina Simone, she battled bias and music industry discrimination and artistic appropriation. Her work inspired so many artists-Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Lee Lewis, just to name a few. We are proud to present Northlight favorites and Jeff Award winner Bethany Thomas, Alexis Roston and director E. Faye Butler to pay tribute to this singular artist."
"Marie and Rosetta" boasts an award-winning cast, with Bethany Thomas, fresh off her powerhouse performance in "Songs for Nobodies" at Northlight, playing Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Alexis J. Roston, most recently seen in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" as Billie Holiday, portraying Marie Knight.
The talented behind-the-scenes team for "Marie and Rosetta" consists of E. Faye Butler (Director), Morgan E. Stevenson (Music Director/Piano/Conductor), John Culbert (Set Design), McKinley Johnson (Costume Design), Jared Gooding (Light Design), Rick Sims (Sound Design), Lonnae Hickman (Props Design), and Sean Moore (Wig Design). Rita Vreeland will serve as the Stage Manager.