Bessie Shows Her Ass
When Bessie gets drunk, watch out! When Bessie gets mad, take cover!
The story covers a night in 1928 that set Harlem buzzing. The principal players were all well-known... and all queer. Bessie Smith, possessing one of the greatest voices in blues, is performing at Harlem's Lafayette Theater and just wants to rest between shows.
Porter Grainger, Bessie's musical director and aspirant to New York's interracial gay circles, cajoles the diva into attending a midtown Manhattan party hosted by...Carl Van Vechten, a white writer and self-styled publicist for the Harlem Renaissance. Bessie will be his trophy entertainer for the night. We follow Porter and Bessie from the theater dressing room to Van Vechten's posh midtown apartment, where Bessie's slow burn explodes.
Some Members of the Team...
Cas Singers // Director
A professional writer, director, and producer with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, she wrote and directed the all-female heist film Scheme Queens, which premiered in the summer of 2022. She also wrote the feature film Unthinkably Good Things shot in Rome, Italy.
Brittaney Inge // Bessie Smith
Brittany Inge is a multi-hyphenate artist and Spelman College graduate who moves fluidly between stage and screen. Her television credits include a series regular role on the Halle Berry and Lena Waithe-produced series Boomerang, recurring roles on Elsbeth and Reasonable Doubt, and appearances on Atlanta and The Resident. Most recently, she made her Broadway debut in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Home, directed by Kenny Leon.
Jared Wofford // Porter Grainger
Jared Wofford is an actor and producer originally from Naperville, Illinois, with an extensive résumé spanning film and television. He is known for his multi-season recurring role as Frantz in the Sony Crackle drama series StartUp, as well as appearances in BMF, Swagger, David Makes Man, and Rap Sh!t. He has also portrayed real-life figures on screen, including Johnnie Cochran in the BET series American Soul.