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Ma Rainey film to open at Cinema Art Theater Dec. 11

December 9, 2020

Starting Friday, Dec. 11, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Art Theater will present “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” an emotional musical drama that deals with issues of art, religion, race, and the historic exploitation of black recording artists in 1927.

What begins as a routine recording session becomes more strained as tensions rise between the members of a blues band and the owners of the recording studio. The white producers mean to exploit the talents of the band - especially the gifted and impulsive Levee played by the late Chadwick Boseman - but when fearless “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey played by Viola Davis joins up with her band she insists on having things her way. Tensions are enflamed and the film builds to an unexpected and searing climax.

Screening times are 4 and 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11; 4 and 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12; 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13;  2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16; and 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 17. Admission is $8 for members and $11 for future members. Customers are encouraged to purchase tickets online at rehobothfilm.com. If seats are available, tickets can be purchased at the theater starting 30 minutes prior to each screening.

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