cast
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Queen Latifah
Bessie Smith
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Mo'Nique
Ma Rainey
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Mike Epps
Richard
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Tika Sumpter
Lucille
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Michael Kenneth Williams
Jack Gee
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Charles S. Dutton
William 'Pa' Rainey
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Bryan Greenberg
John Hammond
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Oliver Platt
Carl Van Vechten
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Khandi Alexander
Viola
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Tory Kittles
Clarence
- Kamryn Johnson Young Bessie
- Rikki McKinney Chorus Guy
- Alan T. Coleman Stagehand
- Clay Chappell '81' Theatre Owner
- Sharan C. Mansfield Miss Taylor
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Neko Parham
Rehearsal Director
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Onira Tarés
Chorus Girl
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Jhoni Davis
Chorus Girl
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Jim R. Coleman
Host
- Melissa Youngblood Theatergoer
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Jennifer Sears
Ma's Main Girl
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Briana Starks
Ma's Dancer
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Todd Allen Durkin
Nightclub Manager
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Crystal Lee Brown
Bessie's Dancer
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Hunter Womack
Roadie
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Christopher Harvey
Roadie
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Tia Hendricks
Doreen Dupree
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Marie Burke
Etta Johnson
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Terence Rosemore
Detroit Theater Manager
- Karri Mack Wild Child
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Kaden Washington Lewis
Swarm Boy
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L. Warren Young
Sharkish Man
- Saundra Dunson-Franks Hostess
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Bralyn Stokes
Harry Herbert Pace
- Cj Sykes Black Swan Executive
- Adebukola Bodunrin Black Swan Receptionist
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Joe Knezevich
Frank Walker
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Troy Faruk
Brave Man
- David Paul Lord Klansman
- Chris Walters Doorman
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Jessejames Locorriere
Vanity Fair Editor
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Whitney Goin
Fania Van Vechten
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Jeremie Harris
Langston Hughes
- Chantelle Rose Mussenden Gertrude
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Sylvester Ambrose James II
Jack Gee Jr.
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Levi Erik
Benny Goodman
- Gerard 'Gus' Williams Gangster
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Tim McAdams
Shady Guy
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Kenny Banks Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
- Michael Burton Bessie's Band Member
- Roderick Harris Bessie's Band Member
- John A. Harvey Bessie's Band Member
- Reggie Hines Bessie's Band Member
- Kevin Kendrick Bessie's Band Member
- Marcus Lewis Bessie's Band Member
- Kenneth Murray Jr. Bessie's Band Member
- Kwame Paige Bessie's Band Member
- Jason Passmore Bessie's Band Member
- Daniel Saintil Bessie's Band Member
- Craig Shaw Bessie's Band Member
- Don C. Sherow Bessie's Band Member
- Dashiel Smith Bessie's Band Member
- Eric Solomon Bessie's Band Member
- Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr. Bessie's Band Member
- Teddy White Bessie's Band Member
- Wilbert Williams Bessie's Band Member
- Brandon Boone Ma's Band Member
- Robert Boone Ma's Band Member
- Daniel Terence Harper Ma's Band Member
- Anton Harris Ma's Band Member
- Jody Mayfield Ma's Band Member
- Derrick B. White Ma's Band Member
- Edward Wright Ma's Band Member
- Jonathan Bryant Dancer
- Heather Bland Dancer
- Raquiah Carter Dancer
- Lauren Debrick Dancer
- Desiree Dixon Dancer
- Anthony Hart Dancer
- Nia Lancelin Dancer
- Keshia McNeal Dancer
- Samara Michelle Dancer
- LaVaughn Morton Dancer
- Tiffany Murray Dancer
- Ashley Neal Dancer
- Tiffany Norris Dancer
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Christopher L. Plunkett
Dancer
- Stephan Reynolds Dancer
- Nateli Ruiz Dancer
- Primas Leon Stanley Dancer
- Brentney Stephens Dancer
- Dacia Stinson Dancer
- Fred Swinton Dancer
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Sheerod Tate
Dancer
- Quiantae Thomas Dancer
- Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson Dancer
- Kendre White Dancer
- Selah Avery Background Extra (uncredited)
- Perry Ball Railroad Passenger (uncredited)
- Qualen Bradley Stage Crew (uncredited)
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Alkoya Brunson
Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)
- Jeffery James Bucchino Doorman (uncredited)
- Judy McGee Burley Extra (uncredited)
- Jess Marie Carr Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
- Jameson Jamey Copeland Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)
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Taurus Davis
Extra (uncredited)
- Dino Demitri KKK Driver (uncredited)
- Derrick Dee Bodyguard (uncredited)
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Shannon Edwards
Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)
- Tyrone Emanuel Party Guest (uncredited)
- Samuel Lee Fudge Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)
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Adella Gautier
Neighbor #2 (uncredited)
- Curtis Gordon Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
- Montice Harmon Party Goer (uncredited)
- Rob Hays Server (uncredited)
- Sarah Turner Holland Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
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Damita Jane Howard
Jack's Lover (uncredited)
- Geoffrey Howard Poker Player (uncredited)
- Charlie Johnson Party Goer (uncredited)
- Noah Hudson Killingbeck Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
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Andre Lamar
Cheering Fan (uncredited)
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Trey McGriff
Pedestrian (uncredited)
- Lanier McKinney Dancer (uncredited)
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John Merical
VIP Guest (uncredited)
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Dan Michael
Theater Goer (uncredited)
- Letecia Reeder Patron (uncredited)
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Swift Rice
Stage Hand (uncredited)
- Darrell L. Shuler Club Goer (uncredited)
- Alexis Silvestre Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
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Nicole Spiezio
Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)
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Dorothea Syleos
Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
- Tray Williams Stage Crew (uncredited)