Photo Credit: Jenny Plevin
Black Arts MKE and the Marcus Center are presenting the Bronzeville Arts Ensemble’s new production of Black Nativity, the roof-raising, jubilant, generous and tender contemporary musical by poet Langston Hughes. It’s a virtual museum of African American music largely built on Bible passages about Jesus’ birth and its meaning. Once again, director Malkia Stampley and her team locate the ancient story in today’s Milwaukee where a child is born to a homeless Black Mary and Joseph under a local viaduct.
The ancient texts reflect a politics that cheers the coming of a lord, a king who redeems sinful humanity and offers hope of eternal happiness for those who follow him. Such language can be (and has been, ever since it was forced on enslaved Africans) employed in countless ways. Hope itself offers happiness; moreover, a community with a common vision can sustain a hope for freedom and equality strong enough to move a country closer to those values, or at least to a better understanding of the cruelty of their denial. Stampley’s intention, as she writes in her program note, is “…to couple the gospel of Christ with action, reflection and healing.”
Since Hughes filled Black Nativity with spirituals and gospel songs, the Bible’s message is prominent. But Stampley’s production suggests that activism is another way to pray. Last year, some of the stage characters took the knee in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. This year, Stampley is blunter: her young Black Milwaukeeans post flyers across the set that read VOTE. She also includes a touching scene of solidarity with the #MeToo Movement, in which an anguished young woman, a victim of sexual assault, seeks help from church members. Once again, the cast play mourners on a street following a slaying; we can imagine Sherman Park. Later, the mourners carry signs reading: “Speak Love Live Your Truth”; “We are only as blind as we want to be”; “1 in 3 women experience sexual violence in their lifetime”; “You are not alone.”
Stay on top of the news of the day
Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays.
The entire all-ages cast, led by Natalie Harris and Di’Monte Henning as Mary and Joseph, is charismatic. Soloists Raven Dockery, Shawn Holmes, Camille Hunt, Justin Lee, Tasha McCoy, Brandite Reed and Michaela Usher should be better known. Christopher Gilbert’s choreography is insanely delightful. Set design by Madelyn Yee, costumes by Beverly Echols and lighting by Colin Gawronski are touching. Antoine Reynolds’ music direction and his four-piece live band are brilliant.
Through Dec. 16 at the Marcus Center’s Wilson Theatre at Vogel Hall, 929 N. Water St. For tickets visit www.marcuscenter.org.
