The sexy side of the blues

Randal Myler has rocked the Temple of Music and Art with “Love, Janis” and “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues.”

He’ll do it again with “Low Down Dirty Blues,” which Arizona Theatre Company opens in previews Saturday, March 10.

“It’s a simple concept,” Myler, who is also directing, says about “Low Down,” which he co-created with Dan Wheetman. “It’s Saturday night turning into Sunday morning.”

The set-up is this: Blues musicians are winding up a gig at a blues bar and gather for some after-hours jamming.

And what they jam with are the earthy, sexy blues, full of double entendres, heartache and lusty soul. Songs such as “I’d Rather Go Blind,” “Good Morning Heartache,” and the title tune. Music by such blues gods as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Ma Rainey.

Don’t expect much dialogue.

“It is song-based,” says Myler. “Though there is some linking dialogue.”

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

About his Saturday night/Sunday morning concept, Myler makes clear the link between the blues and gospel music. After hours, the bawdy is on all night long. Come Sunday morning, “that tug comes back,” says Myler, and the gospel music is belted out.

“It’s a theme that sneaks up on the audience — how close blues and church music are, and how many blues singers began in the church.”

Heading up the cast is Felicia P. Fields, who plays Big Mama, the owner of the bar.

“We built the show around Felicia,” says Myler, adding he first saw her in the Broadway production of “The Color Purple.” “She is the perfect Big Mama.”

The cast also includes Chic Streetman, whose raunchy, thrilling version of “Crawlin’ King Snake” in ATC’s 2003 “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues” is still a vivid memory; Shake Anderson, who has played with B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield and an impressive list of other musicians; Calvin Jones, a Broadway veteran and recording artist who has performed with such singers as Patti Austin and Eartha Kitt; and Steve Schmidt, a jazz and blues keyboardist who has toured with The Count Basie Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the The Wilbert Longmire Group.

“Low Down Dirty Blues” begins previews March 10; the opening is March 16 and it continues through March 31 at the Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. It is 85 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets are $25-$73 at 622-2823 or arizonatheatre.org