Black Ensemble Theater: Elvis Presley Was A Black Man Named Joe Review
Rhonda Preston
Black Ensemble Theater Presents ELVIS PRESLEY WAS A BLACK MAN NAMED JOE Review - A Healing Journey Intertwined with Elvis
TLDR: Written by BET’s own founder, Elvis Was A Black Man Named Joe takes us back in Jackie Taylor’s memories to show how Elvis was a staple in her and her brother’s life. The show weaves together her healing journey alongside Elvis’ legacy rooted in African-American music and artists.
Trequon Tate, Rhonda Preston, Destin Warner, Dwight Neal, Direoce Juniors
Weaving Together Memories and History
We look at the bare stage before us with only one scene location high above the stage - Cabrini Green - to place us here in the projects of Chicago. The Black Ensemble Theater band gets the energy up with an entr'acte number. Then, Rhonda Preston takes center stage in a gold-green, sparkly dress. She’s joined by the other members of the ensemble for the original opening number “Elvis Presley Was a Black Man Named Joe.” They move right into a medley of popular and instantly recognizable Elvis Presley songs like “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog.”
Preston then begins to tell us all about her relationship to Elvis as Janet. He was a staple figure in hers and her brother, Joe’s, childhood. The two siblings were close enough in age that they shared a close bond as kids. When Preston finishes introducing a memory, the stage slowly begins to turn, revealing Janet’s home behind it. We’re dropped into the middle of a scene, sometimes Young Janet (Britt Edwards) and Joe (Dennis Dent) arguing over if Elvis actually said something racist. Sometimes it’s a conversation between her and her mom (Melanie McCullough) and dad (Jaitee Thomas).
As the scene wraps up, the set rotates back and Preston takes the stage again. This time she’s taking us through Elvis’ rise to fame and popularity. She gives him his credit where it’s due, but also makes sure we know where Elvis’ style and influence came from.
In the director’s note, we find this piece of theater comes directly from the founder of of BET’s, Jackie Taylor’s, life and her story that she has decided to share. As Preston delivers the final monologue proclaiming Elvis will always have a place in her life, we feel how close this subject matter is. We’re taken to that healing place that Taylor has reached in this show.
Musical Prowess Showcased at Black Ensemble Theater
In between the trips down memory lane and Elvis history lessons, we’re treated to the ensemble singing not only Elvis songs, but his influencers as well. We get classics from Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, and Roy Hamilton. But the cherry on top is Trequon Tate as Little Richard. He runs on stage dressed in a bright red, sparkly jacket and ruffled shirt proclaiming Elvis always claimed he was the ultimate king of rock n’ roll.
And when we finally get to hear Britt Edwards sing, she delivers another original song “Just Joe,” in remembrance of her brother. Her voice is clear and crisp with an emotional delivery that hits you right in your core.
After intermission and the wrap up of the story, what would a BET show be without a music revue showcasing these performers’ talents. Each member of the cast gets their chance to shine singing a song from Elvis’ repertoire. And then Preston takes us home with a powerful “How Great Thou Art” her voice filling the entire theater through that last note.
So if the story isn’t enough to intrigue you, getting a bite-size rock ‘n roll concert might tickle your fancy.
The cast of Elvis Presley was a Black Man Named Joe
The After Party Thoughts
I’d bet a lot of us out there have known for a while now that Elvis’ style came from an appreciation of African American, gospel, and Black artists’ music styles and dancing. Looking back now through a modern lens, we’d probably argue there’s a very fine line between appreciation and appropriation. That’s what I liked most about Elvis Presley Was A Black Man Named Joe, it acknowledges how much one artist can mean to a person while also setting the record straight about where his influences came from.
The show feels like a summary of Taylor’s memories where the meat and main takeaways are coming from current Janet’s soliloquies where she’s telling us about Elvis or paralleling Joe’s memory to Elvis himself. I left the theater thinking, they could make this bigger if they wanted to. There were some of the memory moments I felt could have been lengthened and gone deeper to really hone in on those parallels between Joe and Elvis and build the relationship more between Young Janet and Joe. But overall, the show does what it needs to do in a nice two hour block.
Elvis Presley Was A Black Man Named Joe is a fun, nostalgic, touching, and educational show. If you’re looking for more of a traditional musical or play structure, this may not be the best fit for you. However, if you’re a fan of Elvis, personal memory shows, shows with lots of musical samplings, or just plain rock ‘n roll, this would be a good fit for you.
RECOMMENDED
Britt Edwards
When
Now through April 20, 2025
Where
Black Ensemble Theater
4450 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
Runtime: 2hrs, including an intermission
Tickets
$56.50+
Tickets can be purchased through the box office by calling (773) 769-4451 or through the Black Ensemble Theater website
Photos
Alan Davis
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Dwight Neal
CAST
Dennis Dent (Joe)
Britt Edwards (Young Janet)
Rhonda Preston (Janet #1)
Melanie McCullough (Mother)
Jaitee Thomas (Father)
Ensemble members: Direoce Junirs, Trequon Tate, Dwight Neal and Destin Warner
CREATIVE
Jackie Taylor (Writer/Director)
Tia Jemison (Assistant Director)
Christopher Chase Carter (Choreographer)
Denise Karczewski (Set/Light Designer)
DJ Douglass (Projection Designer)
Sean Alvarez (Sound Designer)
Cat Andrade (Stage Manager)