WASHINGTON – To end the semester with a special treat, Howard University and the August Wilson Society will host “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Virtual Jam Session” on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. EST in partnership with Netflix. To register for the free event, visit howard.edu/marainey.

The Virtual Jam Session will spotlight the work of August Wilson, recognize Chadwick Boseman in his last performance and provide a unique discussion about the differences and similarities of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” in play and in film.

The two-part event will include a panel discussion led by Sandra G. Shannon, Ph.D., president of the August Wilson Society, with Phylicia Rashad, Howard University alumna, actress, singer and stage director; Ruben Santiago-Hudson, award-winning actor, playwright, director and screenwriter; Ebony Jo-Ann, recording artist and multiple award-winning actress of stage and screen. Rashad and Santiago-Hudson both directed the play.

Additionally, there will be an exclusive interview with renowned director and playwright of theater and film, five-time Tony Award winner and director of the Netflix film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” George C. Wolfe and Colman Domingo, a Tony, Lawrence Olivier and NAACP Theatre Award Nominated Actor, who plays “Cutler” in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

The film releases on Friday, Dec. 18 on Netflix. Check out the trailer here.

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(Featured image courtesy of Netflix.)

About the August Wilson Society:

The August Wilson Society (AWS) was founded within Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences in Spring 2006, shortly after the passing of August Wilson at age 60. This group defines itself as an interdisciplinary learning community of instructors, students and theater lovers who remain dedicated to commemorating August Wilson’s legacy by promoting the studying, teaching, researching, performing and, ultimately, the safeguarding of the rich narrative of the African-American past that Wilson has bequeathed to us in the form of 10 plays that chronicle the stories of African-Americans from 1904 to 1997. To learn more and donate, visit www.augustwilsonsociety.org 

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Imani.popejohns@howard.edu