THE HOUSE I LIVE IN:
JOSH WHITE’S AMERICA
July 29 - August 9 | The Cristal Palace Spiegeltent | Greenville, SC
Located Downtown on the corner of Wardlaw and Main St by New Realm Brewing
A world premiere musical. A Greenville legend. One extraordinary venue.
From July 29-August 9 SCNPF presented this world-premiere musical commissioned by SCNPF,
written by Donnetta Lavinia Grays.
Directed by Tamilla Woodard, Musical Direction by Wesley Hix
Sponsored by:
Bunny and Bob Hughes | Lillian and Henry Parr | The Peace Center
THE STORY
A Greenville Local Who Changed American Music.
Born right here in Greenville, Josh White grew up leading blind street musicians through the Upstate before rising to national fame in the 1930s and '40s. He became the first Black artist to sell a million records, shared stages with Billie Holiday, Woody Guthrie, and Duke Ellington at legendary New York venues like Café Society (the nation's first integrated nightclub) and became a pioneer of the civil rights movement before the House Un-American Activities Committee tried to silence him.
Now, his story is coming home in our first “full production”, complete with costumes, scenery, lighting, and choreography. If you’ve loved our music-stand readings, you’ll go crazy for our World Premiere production in the FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED Cristal Palace!
Three Years. One Community. A Story Only Greenville Could Tell.
SCNPF commissioned award-winning playwright Donnetta Lavinia Grays and spent three years facilitating original research and interviews with Josh White's family members, local historians, and Greenville community leaders to create a work rooted in the real voices of the people who knew him and the city that shaped him.
Several of those who shared their stories, including civil rights activist Ruth Ann Butler, community leader Mary Duckett, and Beverly White and Josh White Jr., passed away during the creation of this project. The House I Live In remembers their stories.
Directed by Tamilla Woodard · Musical Direction by Wesley Hix