"Marie and Rosetta"

Marie and Rosetta

George Brant

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

Michelle E Jordan and Marissa Rudd

George Brant’s Marie and Rosetta receives its foot-tapping, spirit-arousing, and raise-the-roof production at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, returning to its birthplace of sorts where in 2015 the musical was first featured in the company’s annual New Works Festival.  The music and life-story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe -- often regarded as the "Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll whose five decades of performing influenced the likes of Elvis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash -- had already faded from public conscience before she died in 1973.   George Brant's Marie and Rosetta resurrects the  heart-pounding, soul-touching music but keeps the story of the musical giant more buried than bringing it into the sunlight.

For my full review, please continue to Talkin' Broadway:  https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/sanjose/sj156.html.

Rating: 3.5 E

Marie and Rosetta continues through March 31, 2019, produced by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley at Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.  Tickets are available at http://www.theatreworks.org/box-office/buy-tickets/.

Photo by Kevin Berne