‘Elvis Presley was A Black Man Named Joe’ at Black Ensemble Theater through April 20th ONLY!

Paul Lisnek Behind the Curtain

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZDPZ17kio?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=900&h=507]

It is likely that this show’s title caught your attention. Well, in reality, this is the intimate and very personal story of Black Ensemble Theater founder and CEO Jackie Taylor who also wrote and directed this autobiographical work. Indeed Jackie as a young girl was in love with Elvis and that was something she shared intensely with her brother Joe. She wrote Elvis hundreds of letters…but did he ever write back? And just how does young Jackie (called Janet in the play) work with the family dynamics and difficulties dealt with by her brother. And yes, the musical is filled with all the Elvis songs you would hope to hear as only BET can perform them.

Joining in the conversation is indeed Miss Jackie Taylor who talks about her vision in this production, but also for the Black Ensemble Theater campus that is developing. Also chatting is Rhonda Preston, who has been performing with BET for about 30 years and knows Jackie so well, it makes sense for her to play Jackie as we all know her today. In addition, one of the “newer” performers in the BET family, Britt Edwards plays young Jackie (called Janet in the show) and she shares what it means to be part of the BET performing family.

An engaging conversation to be sure because BET is not your typical theater production company. It’s a family with a mission: to eradicate racism in our lifetime.

Tickets for the production can be purchased at: www.BlackEnsemble.org and performances run through April 20^th.

Check out the theater at their website…it’s a real jewel of the community.

https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7369880/7369880_2025-04-15-040520.64kmono.mp3

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