The show Josephine starring co-creator Tymisha Harris will only grace the stage for a few more days, but is a must-see for anyone who wants to know more about the enigmatic singer/dancer/civil rights leader Josephine Baker.
Freda Josephine Baker was born in 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri in poverty. At 8, she worked as a live-in domestic servant for families in town, but at 11 she witnessed racial violence that profoundly affected her. At 13, she was recruited for a vaudeville troupe, and headed to New York City, where they performed at the Plantation Club during the Harlem Renaissance. She got a role in the chorus line in the Broadway revue Shuffle Along, where she stood out for her comic timing and undeniable gifts for dance and music. Josephine caught the eye of an impresario, and moved to Paris, where she was part of a “Revue negre” and danced nearly nude. She starred in the Folies Bergere in 1926 and was an instant sensation.
Where Josephine made her mark was in the “danse sauvage,” wearing a beaded necklace, pasties, and a short skirt made of fake bananas. This image of Baker is iconic, and lead to even greater fame and fortune, a few more husbands, several lovers (both men and women), a dozen adopted children, and a fascinating life. She was a spy during World War II, gathering intelligence for the French Resistance, as well as a Civil Rights leader who spoke eloquently at the March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. before her death in 1975. A complicated woman, Baker lead a multi-faceted life that still resonates today.
Tymisha Harris’ portrayal of the icon is as bold and fearless as Josephine herself. Her strength is in capturing the free spirit of the woman, performing songs of the times, including “Minnie the Moocher,” and the dancing that made her famous. Harris brought the show to Indy Fringe Fest years ago in a shortened form and wowed audiences then; the longer version kept the audience spellbound the entire time in the District Theatre. This is a must-see show for anyone over 18.
The limited engagement only runs Friday, July 14-Sunday, July 16. The District Theatre is located at 627 Mass Ave. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available for $18 (plus fees) general admission or $35 per person for VIP admission (includes priority seating, a complimentary cocktail in the Speakeasy lounge before the show) online at districttheatre.org