On today's show:
Blues with a Feeling
Ruben Santiago-Hudson's autobiographical solo play, "Lackawanna Blues," captures the colorful world of the 1950s boardinghouse in upstate New York that was his childhood home. Santiago-Hudson weaves between an eccentric and troubled, but kind-hearted cast of characters — all centered around the trails and tribulations of his adopted mother, Nanny, a woman with saintlike generosity. With music from guitar greats Bill Sims Jr. and Chris Thomas King, "Lackawanna Blues" combines song and prose to tell the story of how Nanny became his caretaker and the pillar of her community. The show debuted in 2001 and was adapted into a fully cast HBO movie in 2005. Santiago-Hudson says he's brought this revival production to the Mark Taper Forum now because in today's divisive climate, we could all use some of Nanny's trademark loving kindness.