About the Show

The Castillo Theatre presents a new drama which draws on folklore and the historical record to tell the bitter tale of America during the Reconstruction Era.

'Matata and Jesse James' juxtaposes two Missouri families - that of Matata, a former African American slave, with that of of Jesse James, known as a friend to the poor who'd fought for the Confederacy. Can these poor Americans find common ground in the Civil War’s aftermath? The color line runs deep through our country's history and culture.

Critic Reviews (1)

"Friedman touches the raw nerve of race relations in American history which has not been fully resolved yet...The production is very handsome...Woods Jr. directed this production with obvious care for detail. He maintains pace and rhythm of the scenes and uses space quite ingeniously...Solid cast...Each maintains distinct a characterization and together they create a microcosm of the vast American social landscape during and post-Civil War that resonates still today."
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Cast and creative team