Jade Wheeler in

Urbanite Theatre is not afraid to push the boundaries of art in Sarasota. The black box theater has developed a reputation for producing contemporary, cutting edge material. Next week, Urbanite Theatre will do something that it has yet to do in its 12 seasons of operation—a musical production. On May 29, Urbanite will host the regional premiere of Who Is Eartha Mae?, a one-woman show created by and starring Jade Wheeler. The musical play—in which Wheeler is accompanied by a pianist—explores the story of musical icon Eartha Mae Kitt, an American singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame in the late 1940s and throughout the ‘50s.

Eartha Mae is set backstage in Kitt’s dressing room during the quiet time between Eartha Kitt’s performances. Through song, Wheeler peels back the layers of Kitt’s personality, differentiating between the performer and the person.

“I have been wanting to do something musical in our space since the beginning of time,” says Summer Wallace, producing artistic director of Urbanite. “It’s hard to find small musicals that aren’t just a song cycle, but that actually have a heart, a soul and a story. I’m pitched biography solo shows all the time, but Eartha Mae is exciting because while Eartha Kitt is this icon and legend, people don’t know a lot about the person herself.”

Kitt became known as a cultural icon and social activist as well, with her career taking a downturn in 1968, after making anti-war sentiments at a White House luncheon to then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. “Eartha Kitt also became a queer icon as well,” says Wallace. “She has a very distinctive singing style, once you hear her voice, you can’t unhear it. Orson Welles once called her, ‘the most exciting woman in the world.’”

Eartha Mae is presented in partnership with the Hanover Theatre Repertory, which first produced the play. Livy Scanlon—the director of the production at both the Hanover and Urbanite—first introduced Wallace to the concept. “Livy likes to champion new work and new artists and for that sake, the show is a great fit at Urbanite,” says Wallace.

Who Is Eartha Mae, May 29-June 21, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St, Sarasota, 34236.

Jade Wheeler in

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