American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, presents the Chicago premiere of Artistic Affiliate Charles Smith's Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues, directed by Ensemble Member Chuck Smith. Capping off Blues' 2024-2025 season, Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues is a comedic and thoughtful tale brought to the stage by the creative team behind last season's successful The Reclamation of Madison Hemings. Running May 23 – June 29, 2025, tickets to Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues are on sale now through the American Blues Theater box office, www.americanbluestheater.com, (773) 654-3103. The press opening is schedule for May 29, 2025 at 7:00pm.
Pompey is an aging white vaudevillian; Jet is a Black teenager. Thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, they show us how basic needs and emotions transcend barriers of race, religion, and age. Don't miss Ensemble member and veteran TV star Dennis Cockrum's ("Shameless") return to American Blues Theater in the role of Pompey, along with Ensemble member Dawn Bach (Marsha), Justin Banks (Jet) and James Sherman (Ollie).
Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside comments, "We're thrilled to produce another collaboration between Charles Smith and Chuck Smith. Working with these two legends has been a dream for us. There is a palpable excited around American Blues as we welcome back Ensemble member Dennis Cockrum to our stage to help bring this wonderful play to life."
The creative team includes Charles Smith* (playwright), Chuck Smith* (director), Shayna Patel* (scenic), Jared Gooding* (lights), Lily Walls* (costumes & wardrobe supervisor), Rick Sims* (co-sound), Warren Levon* (co-sound), Tyson Carter (properties), Wilson Cain (dramaturg), Richard Lundy* (stage manager), Michael Trudeau* (facilities manager & ME), Nate Walczyk* (production manager) Tom Daniel* (technical director), and Chris Walls (audio supervisor).
*Denotes an Ensemble Member or Artistic Affiliate of American Blues.
About the Artists
CHARLES SMITH (playwright) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. Plays include The Reclamation of Madison Hemings, Objects in the Mirror, Free Man of Color, Knock Me a Kiss, The Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues, Freefall, The Gospel According to James, Jelly Belly, Pudd'nhead Wilson, Les Trois Dumas, Denmark, Sister Carrie, The Sutherland, Black Star Line, Takunda, Cane, and City of Gold. His plays have been produced by Indiana Repertory Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, The Acting Company, People's Light, The New Federal Theatre, Penumbra, Crossroads Theatre Company, Shakespeare & Company, Penguin Repertory Theatre, Ujima Theatre Company, The Colony Theatre, St. Louis Black Rep, Weissberger Theater Group, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Jubilee Theatre, Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Pegasus Theatre Chicago, Westcoast Black Rep., Robey Theatre Company, Berkeley Repertory Theater, Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland, Independent Theatre in Adelaide, South Australia, the HBO New Writers Project, the International Children's Theater Festival in Seattle, and The National Black Theatre Festival.
He has been commissioned by Cleveland Play House and The Acting Company, and has received multiple commissions from Victory Gardens, Indiana Rep, and Goodman. He received the 2024 Kesselring Prize for Playwriting for his play, The Price of the Ticket. Other awards include a Joseph Jefferson Award, a John W. Schmid Award, two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards, the Illinois Arts Council Governors Award, the Joyce Award, the Cornerstone National Playwriting Award, The National Black Theatre Festival's August Wilson Playwriting Award, Princess Grace Fellowship, the Theodore Ward National Playwriting Award, two Black Theatre Alliance Awards for New Work, the NBC New Voices Award, and numerous other AUDELCO, Jeff, NAACP, and Black Theatre Alliance award nominations.
He is an alumnus of New Dramatists, a graduate of the University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop, one of the founding members of the Playwrights Ensemble at the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Presidential Research Scholar in the Arts and Humanities at Ohio University and has taught playwriting at Northwestern University, for the Prague Summer Program in Creative Writing in the Czech Republic, and for the Center for Dramatic Art in Groznjan, Croatia.
CHUCK SMITH (director) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater where he directed Leroi Jones' Dutchman, Flyin' West, & The Reclamation of Madison Hemings. He is a member of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees and is a Goodman Theatre Resident Director. He is also a resident director at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, Florida. Goodman credits include the Chicago premieres of Pullman Porter Blues; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Race; The Good Negro; Proof and The Story; the world premieres of By the Music of the Spheres and The Gift Horse; James Baldwin's The Amen Corner, which transferred to Boston's Huntington Theatre Company, where it won the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award for Best Direction; A Raisin in the Sun; Blues for an Alabama Sky; August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, Two Trains Running and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; Objects in the Mirror, Having Our Say, Ain't Misbehavin' the 1993 to 1995 productions of A Christmas Carol; Crumbs From the Table of Joy; Vivisections from a Blown Mind and The Meeting.
He served as dramaturg for the Goodman's world-premiere production of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. He directed the New York premiere of Knock Me a Kiss and The Hooch for the New Federal Theatre and the world premiere of Knock Me a Kiss at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater, where his other directing credits include Master Harold... and the Boys, Home, Dame Lorraine and Eden, for which he received a Jeff Award nomination.
Regionally, Mr. Smith directed Death and the King's Horseman (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Birdie Blue (Seattle Repertory Theatre), Jitney and Gem of the Ocean (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), The Story (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Blues for an Alabama Sky (Alabama Shakespeare Festival) and The Last Season (Robey Theatre Company). At Columbia College he was facilitator of the Theodore Ward Prize playwriting contest for 20 years and editor of the contest anthologies Seven Black Plays and Best Black Plays. He won a Chicago Emmy Award as associate producer/theatrical director for the NBC teleplay "Crime of Innocence" and was theatrical director for the Emmy-winning "Fast Break to Glory" and the Emmy-nominated "The Martin Luther King Suite".
He was a founding member of the Chicago Theatre Company, where he served as artistic director for four seasons and directed the Jeff-nominated Suspenders and the Jeff-winning musical Po'. His directing credits include productions at Fisk University, Vanderbilt University, Roosevelt University, Eclipse Theatre, ETA, Black Ensemble Theater, Northlight Theatre, MPAACT, Congo Square Theatre Company, The New Regal Theater, Kuumba Theatre Company, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Pegasus Players, the Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. In 2019 he received an Honorary Ph.D. from his alma mater Governors State University and has received lifetime achievement awards from The African-American Arts Alliance of Chicago, the League of Chicago Theaters and the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. He is a 2003 inductee into the Chicago State University Gwendolyn Brooks Center's Literary Hall of Fame and a 2001 Chicago Tribune Chicagoan of the Year. He is the proud recipient of the 1982 Paul Robeson Award and the 1997 Award of Merit presented by the Black Theater Alliance of Chicago.
DAWN BACH (Marsha) – has been a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater since 1993. Dawn has appeared in numerous Blues productions over the years, including Catch-22, A Stone Carver, On the Waterfront, A Lie of the Mind and Dark at the Top of the Stairs. She served as musical director/composer for Medea and wrote original music for Toys in the Attic, for which she received the After Dark Award for outstanding original music. She has hosted and narrated numerous industrial films and has appeared on the stages of Lifeline, Shakespeare Project of Chicago, Bailiwick, Next, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Northlight (Cowgirls, Smoke on the Mountain) and Goodman Theatre (A Christmas Carol). A long-time student of the late Mary Ann Thebus, Dawn is also a trained singer and violinist.
JUSTIN BANKS (J'Taurius, aka Jet) – is thrilled to make his premiere at the American Blues Theater. Recently, he wrote and performed in The Second City's Bob Curry Fellowship production, The Minority Report: What Had Happened Was..., and understudied for The Second City's Black By Popular Demand. Justin is also a former contributing writer for "The Onion." He studied Meisner and Viewpoints at Black Box Acting Studio's "The Academy" and is a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University. He is represented by Gray Talent Group.
DENNIS COCKRUM (Pompey) has been a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater since 1988. Shows at Blues include: Bad Moon, written by founding member Rick Cleveland; Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O'Neill; On the Waterfront by Budd Schulberg with Stan Silverman; Tobacco Road by Jack Kirkland; readings for The Commons series. BROADWAY: Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan. REGIONAL: Dead End by Sidney Kingsley (Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles); Lincoln Park Zoo by Richard Strand (Geva Theatre, Rochester, NY); God of Isaac and Mr. 80% both by James Sherman (Victory Gardens, Chicago); Jefferson Citation recipient for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard (Court Theatre, Chicago); FILM: Uncle Buck, Code of Silence, The Package, Murder by Numbers, Desperate Measures, Extreme Movie, Glimmer Man, Downeast, Gangster Squad, Inherit the Wind, Hail Caesar! TELEVISION: Chicago Med, Malcolm in the Middle, American Dreams, Cheers, Pretty Freekin' Scary, NCIS, Uncle Buck, Star Trek (Next Generation, Voyager, Enterprise), Firefly, King of Queens, Bookie, and seven seasons as Terry Milkovich on Shameless.
JAMES SHERMAN (Ollie) originally from Chicago, was a theatre student at Illinois State University in the 1970s. He began his professional career with The Second City in Chicago and received an M.F.A. degree from Brandeis University. Living in New York in the 1980s, James studied acting with Uta Hagen for five years and had his first professional production as a playwright. He was a founding member of the Playwrights Ensemble of the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theater and had thirteen plays premiered there. He is the author of many plays including Magic Time, The God of Isaac, Beau Jest, Jest a Second!, Romance in D, From Door to Door, Jacob and Jack, The Ben Hecht Show, and Chagall In School. James' plays have been published and are regularly produced by theaters throughout the United States and have also been seen in Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Poland, South Africa, China, and Korea. In the summer of 2008, James wrote and directed the movie of his play, BEAU JEST, starring Lainie Kazan, Seymour Cassel, and Robyn Cohen. James currently teaches classes in Improvisation and American Comedy at DePaul University and Columbia College of Chicago He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America. jamessherman.com
Fact Sheet
Title: Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues
Written by: Charles Smith
Directed by: Ensemble Member Chuck Smith
Featuring: Dennis Cockrum* (Pompey), Dawn Bach* (Marsha), Justin Banks (Jet) and James Sherman (Ollie).
Creative Team: Shayna Patel* (scenic), Jared Gooding* (lights), Lily Walls* (costumes & wardrobe supervisor), Rick Sims* (co-sound), Warren Levon* (co-sound), Tyson Carter (properties), Wilson Cain (dramaturg), Richard Lundy* (stage manager), Michael Trudeau* (facilities manager & ME), Nate Walczyk* (production manager) Tom Daniel* (technical director), and Chris Walls (audio supervisor).
*Ensemble member or Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater
Dates: May 23 – June 29, 2025
Schedule:
Wednesdays: 2:00 PM (June 4 &18) & 7:30 PM (May 28 only)
Thursdays: 7:30 PM
Fridays: 7:30 PM
Saturdays: 3:00 PM (June 7, 21, 28) & 7:30 PM (except June 7 & 21)
Sundays: 2:30 PM
Location: American Blues Theater, 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago
Ticket prices: Previews: $25; Regular Run: $45; Opening night with reception: $60
Box office: Buy online at www.americanbluestheater.com or by calling (773) 654-3103.
Public Programming and Special Events
American Blues Theater is excited to offer audiences even more ways to engage with artists, neighbors and the larger community through its two programs The Commons and @Home Accessibility Series.
The Commons features readings, live concerts, open mics, game nights, town halls and more at American Blues. The @Home Accessibility Series features readings, live concerts, and town halls from the comfort of home via Zoom. For the most up-to-date programming schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.americanbluestheater.com. Additional programming will be announced throughout the season.
The upcoming schedule for The Commons series follows:
Piano Man
Performed by Ian Paul Custer & Friends
Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
An intimate concert featuring Ensemble member Ian Custer performing the hits from Billy Joel, Elton John, Ben Folds, and other male singer/pianists.
Sounds of the Soul
Gospel Music's Anthem of Freedom
Featuring vocalist Marquetta Jackson
Monday, June 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Powerful gospel songs of resilience, hope, and triumph that celebrate freedom.
My Amazon Diary
Written and Performed by Rick Cleveland
Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Founding Ensemble member Rick Cleveland shares his comic and heartfelt journey through Hollywood, mental illness, and 20 years of online purchases.
The upcoming schedule for @Home series follows:
Inclusion & Allyship
Anti-racism Workshop with Belonging Specialist Tania Richard
Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30 PM Central (via Zoom)
Continuing work of the anti-racism movement, Belonging Specialist & Artistic Affiliate Tania Richard helps attendees with their journey.
Rubber Banned Book Club – Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl
Tuesday, May 27 at 6:30 PM Central (via Zoom)
Featuring readings from The Definitive Edition of The Diary of a Young Girl by Ensemble member Dara Cameron and guest artist Atlie Gilbert.
Blues Views – The Artists of Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues
Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30 PM Central (via Zoom)
A discussion with playwright Charles Smith, director Chuck Smith, and actors Dawn Bach, Justin Banks, Dennis Cockrum, and James Sherman.
About American Blues Theater
Winner of the prestigious National Theatre Company Award from American Theatre Wing (Tony Awards). American Blues Theater is an Ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic diverse stories that ask the question: "What does it mean to be American?"
The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Ensemble theater in Chicago. As of 2024, the theater and artists received 239 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 44 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.
