Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Ma Rainey; these names resonate with the soulful sounds of blues music. “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues” brings these icons to life at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Herrick Auditorium (500 West Loop). The film is free and open to the public.

The story of how these women brought the blues out of the fields and into the mainstream music scene through vaudeville and minstrel shows, moving into phonograph records, radio and finally into “talkies,” is deeply engaging with film clips of actual performances and a lively historic perspective. The film is especially appropriate in light of Denison’s theme for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, “I’m Gonna Sing the Spirit: Women in the Struggle for Civil and Human Rights.” Laurel Kennedy of the communication department will provide context and commentary prior to the film.

The film series will conclude with a screening of “Strange Fruit” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at Herrick Auditorium (500 West Loop).


CALENDAR: Denison University, Granville—Screening of “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues” at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 21, at Herrick Auditorium (500 West Loop). Free and open to the public. Contact Lisa Scott at 740-587-6711 for further information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575