Bessies Back In Town September 24, 2011

BESSIE‘S BACK IN TOWN
The Bessie Smith Story
Starring
Von Henry as Bessie

Special Guest
Joe Donato

"the first, and wildest RockStar there ever was, and Von IS Bessie" - Rolling Stone

Before there was JANIS JOPLIN, before BILLIE HOLIDAY, before LOUIS ARMSTRONG , there was BESSIE SMITH, the Empress of the Blues, the first great Rock Star, and the wildest woman there ever was, and the most important woman in jazz history.

... To know Bessie is to love her, and her story is as wild as they come. Besides her musical genius, she was a burlesque comic, actress, dancer, composer, impresario, and a hard drinking, two fisted, bi-sexually promiscuous, family loving, church-going lady, who grew up an orphan singing in the streets.

Well Bessie’s back, to tell it like it was , the true story 'bout her life, 'bout the History of Jazz and Blues, 'bout life in the early 1900's. ....

Along the way you'll hear 14 of her greatest hits, combined with anecdotes of many of the greats in music, like Armstrong, Billie Holiday , Benny Goodman and more … and what also gets tossed in the mix is the history of America, … race relations, .. the world of entertainment and Bessie’s take on America of today.

It stars Von Henry as Bessie, an incredible talent who is a double for Bessie, and backed by some superb actors and musicians, with whom she easily, yet powerfully moves from raucous blues, to sentimental ballads, on to swinging Jazz and Gospels ..
If you don't know Bessie, then you don't know music.
2 SHOWS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE .
After “Bessie” ends , you are invited to stay for a jam and party .
This is one history lesson you won’t fall asleep in.
In fact this is one you’ll come away from singing and dancing ...........

PAX Performing Arts Exchange's Theater Club
337 SW. 8 St. Miami
[right under US 95 with free gated parking]



Tickets at door $25
Advance , seniors, students, $20
Info and Ticket Reservations .... 954 - 589 5537 ........