By May Mahala, August Wilson Dramaturgical Fellow

Mahala: What is your director’s concept for this production?

Harris: My concept is grounded in the music. The music kicks it off. Fats Waller taught us how to laugh at ourselves in a very jovial and a very classy way. At that time period, there weren’t very many classy representations of our people so I think that’s important. It’s also important to make it real. We went back and did research about the time period because its not just music, the music came out of the people’s lives and we want to make it authentic.

Mahala: This play is set during the Harlem Renaissance. What are the specific challenges and opportunities of working on a historical piece?

Harris: I love doing historical pieces, especially African American history. I like to break up the “block of blacks,” and to talk about specific people at specific times. It’s a joy to be able to create everything from the costumes to the music and to make it authentic. The challenge is to not make it sound like right now, to make it sound like back then. So we have been listening to singing styles and whatnot from back then. The time period also comes through in the stride piano.

Mahala: How do you see the music and the storyline of this play intersecting? Would you say that music is the primary language of this production?

Harris: Yes and no. For example, in some African cultures there’s no difference between music and dance. When you do performance with people of color, there is no separation between the movement, the music, and the story. When I hear the music, I see a movement, when I see the movement, I hear a sound. There’s no separation. That’s what makes it real and shows that it comes right out of the people. This show is a good example of American folklore.

Mahala: What would you like the audience to come away with after seeing this production?

Harris: A sense of joy. Also, I would love at some point for people to see themselves on stage through the relationships or the characters or the songs. I would like for people to have a good time with some great music, to laugh, to cry, to go on a good roller coaster, like life. Fats Waller was definitely one of our poets, he talks about hard things and makes us laugh at them. I guess like going to the doctor, you always feel better after telling the truth. I hope the audience sees this play and are able to talk and laugh about their life. And have a rousing good time.