Featured photo: George Warren played the bartender and the piano man in The Legend of Bass Reeves.
Written by L.M. Land
The New McCree Theatre is the place to go for theater and music! At McCree, the quality is excellent, the parking is free, ticket prices are reasonable, local talent is featured and it’s close to home in Flint. Doesn’t get much better! Discount tickets are also available for those who want to attend everything! General admission for a play is $10, concerts are $25. Read on for a discount coupon option!
“The Legend of Bass Reeves” is playing through October 14. This is a Black western featuring Bass Reeves, who in real life was the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshall west of the Mississippi. It is believed that Reeves was the model for the Lone Ranger stories. The play is entertaining and educational, all at the same time.
Next this season is “Christmas at a Crossroads” from December 8-23, 2023. Auditions are October 10-11, 2023. This play is about the intent behind the coming of Christ and how the holiday has been transformed into the commercial enterprise it has become.
The play “The Saints of Saint John’s Street” is a drama based in Flint about a winless youth baseball team and the lessons the team members learn about the game of life as Black kids growing up in the 1950s. Runs from February 8 – 24, 2024. Auditions are December 19 & 20, 2023.
The final play of the season is also about Flint. “Cullud Wattah”, a play by Erika Dickerson-Despenza, which runs May 2-16, 2024. Auditions are on March 5 and 6, 2024. The play is about three generations of women whose existence in Flint, Michigan is circumscribed by the awful water trickling into their homes when the taps are turned on.
The Professional Artist Series season features excellent vocal talent; all performances begin at 7 pm.
November 11, 2023 is “The Fantastic Four”. March 16, 2024 is Detroit diva “Sharon Love Jones”. June 8, 2024’s “Ladies of Soul” features Denise Harrison, aka Diamond and Denise Ford, aka Dyvyne.
At McCree for children are free After School Workshops for children, and a children’s choir who will be doing Christmas singing. Call McCree to get your child involved.
A free Black History Film Series is also ongoing, next is “Faubourg Treme”, an untold history of Black New Orleans, shown on January 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. “I am not your Negro”, a history of racism in America shows on April 20, 2024. “Dark Girls” is on June 22, 2024, and it explores how brown women navigate a society that ignores or demeans them.
Now, about those discount tickets!
For 4 plays, get a season ticket for $35, a $5 savings. (Or $25 if you missed seeing “Bass Reeves”.)
For 3 professional artist concerts, pay $60, a $15 savings.
For 4 plays and 3 concerts, pay only $90, a $25 savings.
To order this discount come to the McCree Theatre and ask for Shirley Winfrey, between 3-6 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, or 3-5 p.m. on Fridays. If you can’t do that, call Mrs. Winfrey at 810.964.4749.
Tickets at regular price can be purchased online as well at https://www.thenewmccreetheatre.com/ .
The New McCree Theatre is located at 4601 Clio Road in Flint, Michigan. Call at (810) 787-2200.
