Audio By Carbonatix
R. C. Davis is the given name of a renowned American actor, writer, and activist. An inattentive county clerk (or family affection) morphed the baby’s name into Ossie. It didn’t seem to harm Ossie Davis any, evidenced by his Broadway career and memorable roles in everything from Car 54, Where Are You? to the 1963 March on Washington, Do the Right Thing, Bubba Ho-Tep, and The L Word (as Jennifer Beals’ dad).
Early on, Davis penned Purlie Victorious, about a traveling preacher who returns to his small Georgia hometown to save the church, claim a family inheritance, and liberate the fieldhands and their families oppressed by Jim Crow legislation and stupid, cruel buttheads. The play became a Tony-winning musical, Purlie, presented by Black Theatre Troupe through Sunday, May 18, at 1333 East Washington Street. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show Friday, May 2, are $35; call 602-258-8129 or visit www.blacktheatretroupe.org/purlie.
Fri., May 2, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 3, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 4, 3 p.m.; Thu., May 8, 2 p.m.; Fri., May 9, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 10, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 11, 3 p.m.; Thu., May 15, 2 p.m.; Fri., May 16, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 17, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., May 18, 3 p.m., 2014
