Lantern Theater Company presents Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky

Angel (Ebony Pullum), a down-on-her-luck jazz singer, recently lost both her love and her gig as a singer at the Cotton Club. Angel’s hometown friend and fellow Harlem transplant Guy (Cookie Diorio), a costume designer for nightclubs and cabarets with dreams of Paris in his sights, allows her to stay with him until she lands back on her feet. Across the hall lives Delia (Taylor J. Mitchell), an innocent, strait-laced social worker passionate about family planning and reproductive rights. Local physician Sam (Kash Goins) shares her interest in women’s health. As the show progresses, Angel catches the romantic interest of Leland (Tariq Kanu), a devoutly religious Alabama native with a tragic past.

Effortless chemistry

The heartbeat of this show is the effortless chemistry of the ensemble, who maneuver around the small venue’s tight apartment staging with particular ease, suggesting they’ve shared space for years. A woman desperately trying to hold on to her musical dreams in an increasingly barren creative landscape, Pullum’s Angel is both commanding and deeply resonant, radiating an intensity that keeps the audience engaged until the final scene of the show’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime.

Diorio as Guy brings an intuitive comedic rhythm to some of the more whimsical moments of the show. Elsewhere, Mitchell’s subdued portrayal as Delia is a much-needed counterbalance to the show’s free-spirited protagonist Angel, adding a dose of grounded realism. Goins as Sam, a self-described “middle-aged man with a bad reputation,” pivots seamlessly from initial brashness to a quiet poignancy in the final scenes that surprises the audience. Kanu, who brings a level of nuance to the more elevated moments of the show as Leland, offers a performance that feels both effortless and essential. The dialogue seems more like a conversation between life-long friends than a script.

Keep your flame

Though written in 1995 and set in 1930, Blues for an Alabama Sky has an uncomfortably modern feel that is sure to resonate with present-day audiences. One major theme is the tug-of-war between pursuing your dreams versus settling into a stable life, notably in times of political and economic upheaval. When Angel complains about her lack of professional job opportunities, the dialogue feels less like Harlem in 1930 and more like a viral TikTok video in 2026.

Angel’s wardrobe also echoes this struggle: her dresses noticeably shift their color and design as the show progresses, paralleling her internal shift (costume design by LeVonne Lindsay). The central theme is clear: don't let the noise of the world drown out your inner flame. Protect the dream at all costs.

A stirring artistic vision

Director Brett Ashley Robinson blends the elements of the show into a stirring artistic vision. Her pacing excels, with smooth transitions between scenes featuring jazz instrumentals (sound design by Elizabeth Atkinson) that bring the 1930s Harlem landscape to life. Robinson also keeps the momentum flowing between scenic designer Dirk Durossette’s dual setting: Guy’s colorful living quarters at center stage and additional side staging for Delia’s quainter apartment. Lighting designer Tydell Williams offers a visual timeline for the audience during several transitions, as an amber sun gives way to the darker warmth of evening, expertly capturing the emotional essence of the moment.

The Lantern’s Blues for an Alabama Sky demands to be seen by anyone who still believes in the transformative power of pursuing your dreams.

The St. Stephen's Theater is accessible only via stairs. Lantern staff can accommodate early seating or other specific needs. When arriving at the theater, let the house manager on duty know what assistance you need.