Back, by popular demand, Sweet Mama Stringbean, a celebration of blues legend Ethel Waters starring ValLimar Jansen, returns to the Grove Theatre the weekend of February 4th and 5th. Born in 1896, the unwanted product her mother’s rape at knifepoint at the age of 12, Ethel Waters grew up unsupervised in the slums of Philadelphia.
Violence was more prevalent than warmth or love throughout her poverty-stricken childhood. She left her own abusive marriage at the age of 14, but her voice was beginning to draw attention. She sang and danced at church functions and started performing in black vaudeville in 1917. She then traveled with a carnival and finally moved to Harlem, eventually becoming a celebrated blues singer. She was the first female black singer to be heard on radio and, later, the highest-paid female performer on Broadway. She won a Grammy Award in 1933 and was the second black performer to be nominated for an Academy Award, for her performance in Pinky (1949).
ValLimar Jansen brings Waters’ music to life in Sweet Mama Stringbean, with her own renditions of songs associated with Waters, including her signature anthem “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” “Stormy Weather,” (which was written for Waters), “Am I Blue” and “My Handy Man Ain’t Handy No More.” Jansen says she avoids imitating Waters’ voice, but instead, strives to capture Waters’ style. Her desire is to raise awareness to the significance of Waters’ achievements.
Performances are Saturday, February 4th at 7:29 pm and Sunday, February 5th at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25 and $20 with senior, student and group discounts available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (909) 920-4343, by going to the Box Office at 276 E. Ninth Street in downtown Upland, or by visiting The Grove’s website at www.grovetheatre.com. Box Office Hours are 11 am – 4 pm weekdays, 11 am – 2 pm Saturdays except holidays.
