Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play
About the show
This solo show explores the life of international superstar Josephine Baker through theater, song, and burlesque. More…
Born in St. Louis in 1906, Josephine Baker achieved only moderate success in the United States, but became an international superstar after moving to France in the early 20s. Her adopted country gave her the opportunity to live freely without the racial oppression of her home nation, though she never stopped yearning for acceptance in America. Written for and performed by Tymisha Harris, 'Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play' won "Best Show" and "Outstanding Solo Performance" at the 2016 San Diego Fringe Festival and "Production of the Year" at last fall's Fringe Encore Series at the Soho Playhouse.
“Subtitled ‘a burlesque cabaret dream play,’ ‘Josephine’ is more. It is a full-fledged musical with grit, sex, color and ebullient dancing, all supplied by the remarkable Tymisha Harris who gushes with love and truth about her subject, the legendary Josephine Baker...The main event, however, is the performance of Harris who doesn't just imitate Baker but uses her own gifts to illuminate she returns the favor with her vivid singing, unabashed dancing and direct connection with the audience.” Full Review
"With self-effacing good humor, Harris recounts the story behind Baker's numerous husbands and lovers...Harris becomes serious when the story turns to Baker's activism in the Civil Rights Movement. Her interpretation of...'The Times They Are A Changin' is breathtaking...Harris's rich and powerful voice is far superior to Baker's...She's also sexy in a way that's most probably far more effective for modern audiences. One likes to think Baker would have respected...and appreciated the tribute." Full Review
"Harris meticulously crafted a performance that makes her voice, body, and overall person scream, 'Josephine!', which in others words means, 'Star!'...Harris is literally gold on stage. She is incredibly charming and sweet...Harris makes you laugh, cry, get angry, and get protective over Baker. She uses music and dance only to further the spiritual highness of Josephine, as a human being whom uncannily brought joy from her desire to absorb it." Full Review
"Probably the closest to an evening with Josephine Baker as one will ever experience...What makes this telling of the story so powerful is that Harris can act, sing, and dance. Because she is a world-class triple-threat, Harris brings Baker back for us...She is riveting...Through all of this, Harris is almost perfectly in the moment every moment...I suspect Baker would be pleased with her portrayal and very proud of the younger performer." Full Review
"If you enjoy smart, quality burlesque, you should go see 'Josephine'...The triple threat actress Tymisha Harris brings back true star power in her solo show...Tymisha’s vocals are smooth and rich, her dance is sensually athletic yet authentic to the time period, and she brings a joy and innocent courage to this firecracker woman...Truly a show of what a small multi-hyphenate team can accomplish." Full Review
"Harris brings Baker to life with an exhilarating energy that flies off the stage and into the audience. Part of that continuance from stage to audience, has to do with the Marinaccio’s direction and book writer/musical director Kimbro. All three of these multi-talented artists created the show 'Josephine Baker'...Through Ms. Harris’s emotionally stirring performance, we see the woman who captured countless lovers, 5 husbands, and adopted a tribe of 12 rainbow children." Full Review
"They mostly succeed in telling the thrilling details of her life story...The only thing missing to this presentation is a more refined production, which could turn this fun play into something far more powerful and electric...Harris as Josephine is delicious and layered...I only wish in her edgy and energetic performance that she would slow down a bit...The script is also in need of some tightening in order to bring the greater umbrella of meaning to a sharper focus." Full Review
"Harris has singing and dancing chops galore...Harris plays Baker mostly with a breathless urgency and an underlay of naivete. The interpretation is a valid actor's choice, but a few more layers of depth would not go amiss...Her rendition of 'The Times They Are A-Changin'...was masterful and memorable...A worthy piece of theater. It's a solid, entertaining production. With a few refinements it could be considerably more than it is, and that would be très magnifique." Full Review
"A story made for show business...It is the show's eye-catching star, Harris, who evokes Josephine's look and provocative spirit...Harris puts all she has into rounding out the sketchy portrait of Josephine, intensely emotional and farcically comical. With a husky, expressive voice, blithe nudity and a captivating demeanor, she reaches into the audience, flirting with both men and women...Much more can and has been written about Josephine Baker than this 75-minute piece." Full Review
"Harris, a skillful performer, offers a pretty fair version of that banana dance and capably handles a song list...Still, Baker was a far more complicated woman than the show presents...'Josephine' has definite audience-pleasing aspects, including a couple of sequences in which she enlists audience members as lovers or fans, but its elaborate title seems to hint at broader, as-yet-unrealized, ambitions...Currently, 'Josephine' works best as a brief introduction to its subject." Full Review
"Harris is attractive and full of personality. She’s beautifully dressed, moves well, and sings with feeling...You won’t gain any insight into the artist and omissions run in Baker’s favor, but presented facts are, at least, facts...Intermittent, Fanny Brice-like mugging does neither Baker nor the show any favors...The play is not without entertainment value if you lower your standards and know little or nothing about Baker. Its parts simply don’t make a polished whole." Full Review
for a previous production “The source material is fascinating...Beyond the biography, we're also given thought-provoking commentary about racism and how black women's bodies are consumed as entertainment: ideas as relevant today as they were in 1926. Harris' performance is a tour de force. Not only can this gal sing, her burlesque numbers are captivating and her dalliances with audience participation are perfection…A triumphant homage to a life worth remembering. Go see this one.” Full Review
for a previous production “'Josephine' is this year’s must-see Fringe show simply because, for an hour, the audience is treated to the haunting voice and commanding presence of Tymisha Harris...Billed as a ‘burlesque cabaret dream play,’ ‘Josephine’ is much more than that, rising to the top of its form under the skilled direction of Marinaccio and a smart, well-balanced script by Kimbro. Sunday night’s crowd gave Harris a rousing standing ovation, which I’m sure will be one of many." Full Review
for a previous production “To play a woman that fabulous requires one mesmerizing performer. In Tymisha Harris, the engaging, involving ‘Josephine’ has just that…She’s an expressive dancer and a strong, emotional singer...Her greatest strength is her ability to convey the mix of nervousness and fearlessness that fueled Baker’s life…The cabaret concept is one of the show’s strongest elements…Kimbro’s script is a fully realized story, though I would have liked a few more concrete details added to the mix.” Full Review
for a previous production “Harris makes the audience feel Baker’s pain and pride at every turn, both through songs and heartfelt soliloquies. Director Marinaccio showcases Harris’s talents to a T…Under Marinaccio’s direction she gets to demonstrate her considerable acting chops as well, digging deep into the sadness beneath Baker’s sunny showbiz exterior.“ Full Review
for a previous production "At the heart of the story is a complex, unapologetic woman who exhibits her sexuality on her own terms…Harris tantalizes the audience with song, dance, and feathers. Tunes like ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘La Vie en Rose’ intermix with onstage costume changes, a bit of casual dialogue, and — of course — the sultry dance moves of the burlesque icon.” Full Review
for a previous production “Harris is a magnetic performer, strong singer and high-powered dancer, who brings to life Baker’s trademark African banana dance, as well as numerous 20th century hit songs by Billie Holiday and others...Harris’ script is faithful to facts, but it still bears the marks of a work in progress and could use some tightening. Baker was free with her body, and so is Harris, who performs a portion of the show in a G-string and pasties, so it has an NC-17 rating." Full Review
See it if Interacting with the audience telling her story. She sings, dances and it entertains you. The actress Tymisha Harris is excellent.
Don't see it if If you don't like the music from that time.
See it if You are interested in Josephine Baker and social issues both then and now. Like biography with wonderful singing gancingband story telling.
Don't see it if If you are not interested in biography, history or how history still needs to Move forward
See it if Harris is as gorgeous & stunning as her work onstage, her command of stage & character a remarkable tour de force, worth many trips downtown
Don't see it if Absolutely no reason not to—unless you’re a lot less comfortable in your skin than Ms Harris is onstage in hers.
Also Solo performances are hard enough to pull off and bios—especially of p... Read more Read less
See it if Great energy and dance
Don't see it if You don't like one-woman shows
See it if You are fascinated by the life of Josephine Baker, spurned in America, found fame in France. Wonderful portrayal, heartfelt.
Don't see it if You are offended by the female form.
See it if You like great singing, thoughtful dialog, and historical drama...
Don't see it if You don't like one woman shows.
See it if A stunning one-woman show. Tymisha Harris soars as Josephine. Captivated throughout. Beautiful voice, deft performance.
Don't see it if You don’t like one-person shows. But this is definitely worth a try.
See it if If you love great singing and acting in an intimate setting. If you're a fan of Josephine Baker.
Don't see it if If you don't like one person shows
See it if you want to get a taste of the extraordinary life of Josephine Baker told in words, songs, and action that will captivate and delight you.
Don't see it if you would be offended by the colorful life of the international super-star Josephine Baker
Also Tymisha Harris is a delightful entertainer. She embraces her character... Read more Read less
See it if Would enjoy a delicious performer who loves the material and the person she's portraying. Strong Fringe show - worthy of recognition.
Don't see it if You might be offended by the burlesque and bawdier aspects of Baker's life. (That said, you don't have to know about Baker to enjoy this.)
Also Saw this on the first performance at the Fringe Encore Series at the S... Read more Read less
See it if You have a chance. It was the best solo show I've ever seen. The actress was multitalented portraying such an iconic character & nailing it.
Don't see it if You're uptight and expect a big stage production. It was simply amazing.
See it if fascinating, brilliant one woman show. I believed she was Josephine Baker! Do not miss this stellar performance by a triple threat!
Don't see it if You aren't interested in the fascinating Josephine Baker; you don't like intimate, cabaret-style performance spaces
See it if You like Learning about a powerful, dynamic, playful, talented icon in African American history- by an equally talented singer/dancer
Don't see it if Nudity in stage shocks you
See it if As a theatre goer you want to be entertained then go before it closes, show is entrancing and the actress is fantastic
Don't see it if If you want big productions and musical scores instead of recorded music, nudity bothers you, touchy topics (still sadly) are not your thing
Also I noted that it said show already closed when I logged onto this page,... Read more Read less
See it if You love and /or want to learn more about Josephine Baker, and enjoy one person shows
Don't see it if You want something that is primarily burlesque or if you can't face hearing about the realities of racism
See it if Tymisha Harris's smile lights up the stage and she is supremely talented singing and dancing her way through Baker's rich life. Wonderful.
Don't see it if Nudity makes you uncomfortable. You're looking for in-depth details on her life. This is a nonstop 75-min. show breezing through her life.
See it if a must see! Tymisha Harris is a Knockout. She inhabits the character and keeps the audience mesmerized.Flawless,fearless performance .Bravo!
Don't see it if don't miss this show! It won Best Show and Outstanding Solo Performance, 2016 San Diego Fringe Festival,and it's totally justified.See it!
Also this is an important and inspiring story.Josephine Baker was a woman a... Read more Read less
See it if you want to learn about an important piece of entertainment history and be entertained in the process.
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with some light audience participation or seeing breasts.
See it if you want to revel in a masterful performance by triple threat Tymisha Harris-she's amazing. I never knew how fascinating Baker's story was.
Don't see it if you don't like one woman shows or have a problem with tasteful nudity in the style of burlesque.
See it if Wow is all I can say Is this off-off-Broadway show is the reason why I go and see so much crap this show was really great one woman holds Up
Don't see it if I just can’t think of a reason not to see it it’s really great
See it if you are interested in the terrible racism in our country and how an amazing woman tried her best to find equality in her life.
Don't see it if You are a racist
See it if you want to be taken back in history with the life of an entertainer extraordinaire. Delightful messages with fantastic singing.
Don't see it if one person shows are not your thing or if you are in any way unable to bear rough language or nudity.
See it if a show about Josephine Baker would interest you. The star was making her NYC debut and was quite good. The show is definitely worth seeing .
Don't see it if a solo performer in a small setting does not interest you. This venue needs more comfortable seating so that can be an issue for some people
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