A troupe of students engaged in the musical "Once on This Island" were granted the opportunity to attend a performance by Sankofa and Gamut Theater Group, The Jackson Rooming House: Music’s Resting Place, by Sharia Benn & Clark Nicholson. This production unfolds within the historical confines of the Jackson Rooming House, operational from the 1920s to the 1970s in Harrisburg, PA. It delves into the lives of pioneering musicians who reshaped the industry, while spotlighting one of the pivotal houses within the Harrisburg Hospitality network, which hosted numerous illustrious African American artists. Among these luminaries were Ma Rainey, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Muddy Waters, among others. Audience members embarked on a journey spanning decades, gaining insight into the influential figures who lodged at the Jackson Rooming House and others associated with The Green Book, a vital resource offering Black performers safe accommodations during the era of segregation. Notably, the performance also featured Brian McGrady, an alumnus of Steel-High (Class of 2006).
To learn more about the Gamut Theatre and this production, please visit: Gamut Theatre Group
