L-R (back): Latoya Rhodes and Elizabeth Summerhays; L-R (front) William Cooper Howell and Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin. Center: Carleton Bluford.
Carleton Bluford‘s new play, Mama, thought to be the first world premiere by an African-American playwright in Utah history, plays Feb. 12-22 at Plan-B Theatre Company, the jewelbox Salt Lake City company known for its socially relevant, inclusive and political plays.
Plan-B artistic director Jerry Rapier, who did the research and cannot find a record of a professional play by a black writer in the Beehive State, directs the four-actor work by actor-writer Bluford. Read my 2014 Q&A with the playwright, who talks about his life and work.
Mama, a celebration of mothers and motherhood, features Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, William Cooper Howell, Latoya Rhodes and Elizabeth Summerhays.
In addition to the milestone for an African-American writer in Utah, Rapier told me, “As far as I can tell the plays we’ve staged by Jenifer Nii — three, [including] one later this year, one more next season — are the first by an Asian-American playwright.”
Carleton Bluford
Mama scribe Bluford previously told me that when he was first conjuring the play his mother, Dawn Bluford, “kept coming into my head.” He explained, “She probably doesn’t know this but she’s often on my mind. So I decided to get it out of my system and write what was on my heart and mind. The [play’s] focus on motherhood was really just to show her that I understand her sacrifice — the sacrifice of most, if not all, women who give up so much for their families.”
Bluford added, “It’s not a traditional, linear play and I like that. It’s more of a patchwork quilt — looking at each square. Eventually, by the end, you get the overall theme and idea — as well as individual slices of life.”
The Mama production team includes stage manager Jennifer Freed and designers Cheryl Cluff (sound), Shianne Gray (props), Jesse Portillo (lighting), Phil Lowe (costumes) and Randy Rasmussen (set).
Performances play Feb. 12-22, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 4 & 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM at the Studio Theatre at the Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT. Visit the Plan-B website for more information.
