Scene to Song Episode 74: Black History of British Musical Theater 1900-1950

In this episode, music director Sean Mayes and Reader in Musical Theatre Dr. Sarah K. Whitfield discuss the Black history of British musical theater from 1900 to 1950, highlighting performances and looking at how one studies musical theater history itself. We also talk about the song "Memories of You" by Eubie Blake and Andy Razaf from Blackbirds of 1930 and is often used in subsequent productions of Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, F.E. Miller, and Aubrey Lyles's 1921 musical Shuffle Along.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Overture" from In Dahomey from "Black Manhattan: Theater and Dance Music of James Reese Europe, Will Marion Cook, and Members of the Legendary Clef Club"
"Weeping Mary" from An Inconvenient Black History of British Musical Theatre 1900-1950 Live at Wigmore Hall
"Memories of You" from An Inconvenient Black History of British Musical Theatre 1900-1950 Live at Wigmore Hall
"Memories of You" from Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
"Memories of You" sung by Alberta Hunter to Eubie Blake

Purchase their book: An Inconvenient Black History of British Musical Theatre by Sean Mayes and Sarah K. Whitfield