Mama

By Terry McMillan

February 20-24, 2008

Wed. - Sat. at 7:30 p.m. Sat/Sun. at 3:00 p.m.

Des Lee Auditorium at Missouri History Museum

Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park

Tickets: $12. - $18

(Senior and Student Rates Available with ID)

The History Museum Box Office (314) 361-9017

Metro-Tix Outlets (314) 534-1111 - Afro World, Inc. (314) 389-5194

Reservations and Group Sales call (314) 355-3586 or at (314) 361-9071

Due to the adult subject matter and strong language, this production is recommended for mature audiences

Co-hosted by the Missouri History Museum

Mardra Thomas

Members of the ensemble cast of MAMA reprising their original roles are Mardra Thomas (as Mildred), Thomasina Clarke (as Freda), Bonnie Harmon (as Curly Mae) and Karl Clark (as Money). The supporting cast will include the talents of Herman Gordon, Shelley Miller, Renee Matkins, Quintin Ray, Kine’ Brown, and Tameka Bradford.

This dramatic adaptation of the first novel, by prolific writer and widely acclaimed author, Terry McMillan, has been warmly received by avid McMillan fans, and received rave reviews as a highlight of the 2003 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston Salem, N. C". Ralph Greene, production director stated, "After one of the performances, I was approached by a patron who lives in the town (Point Haven, Michigan) that the novel is set in and the childhood home of Terry McMillan. She knew the woman on whom the main character (Mildred) was based. She stated that, "the energy of the ensemble and character portrayals realistically captured the personalities of the neighborhood. Mardra Thomas' appearance and portrayal of the main character was simply uncanny." After numerous requests and comments about Unity Theatre Ensemble's adaptation of the novel, Greene decided to include an encore for the 2008 Season. MAMA is a story of survival against tremendous odds...of joblessness, hunger, and the care of five growing children by a single mother...It's a story about a black mother's choices and the consequences of those choices made in order to keep her family together...about women and men... about accepting responsibility, dealing with what is and moving forward," said Greene.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

“Understatement is not Unity’s style, and the generous performances onstage in “Mama” create many emotionally dense moments.” -St. Louis Post Dispatch

“Mardra Thomas is gripping as Mildred, not a saint but a woman who sometimes does her best and sometimes doesn’t. Troubles with men, with money, with jobs and with drinking take their toll. Still, Mildred manages to hold on to a spirited, life-affirming attitude at all times but the very worst. There’s something admirable in that. Her scenes with her good-hearted sister-in-law (Bonnie Harmon) snap with the authenticity of overheard conversation.”- St. Louis Post Dispatch

“So many scenes in Unity Theatre Ensemble’s production of “Mama” are powerful or well-performed or

touching or disturbing,” - St. Louis Post Dispatch

Director Greene creates some amusing and moving vignettes from McMillian’s novel. - The Riverfront Times

“Mardra Thomas brings the character of Mama to full-blooded, fully rounded life. Especially fine are Thomas’scenes with Bonnie Harmon as her wise, patient, long-suffering sister-in-law, Harmon’s physical transformation after her character suffers a stroke is both virtuosic and touching..” -The Riverfront Times