Keep a Song in Your Soul: The Black Roots of Vaudeville

The Old Town School of Folk Music, one of Chicago’s most active presenters of diverse musical offerings and the nation’s largest independent community arts school, is making its first foray into the world of theatre with its commission of the World Premiere of an important new work, Keep a Song in Your Soul: The Black Roots of Vaudeville.

Developed by the Grammy Award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award honoree Reginald R. Robinson and legendary Chicago tap icon Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin, all of whom will perform in the show, Keep a Song in Your Soul: The Black Roots of Vaudeville features more than 20 historic songs written and performed by African- Americans between 1830 – 1930 on the Chitlin’ Circuit, as well as original music and new arrangements of the classic songs by the creative team.

Set in the Great Migration era of 1910 – 1930, Keep a Song in Your Soul: The Black Roots of Vaudeville tells the story of a young woman who is lured from the rural South by the promise of a better life in a northern city, followed by her devoted boyfriend. There, the two encounter further challenges, finding the realities behind the city’s false gleam. The production explores Vaudeville’s African-American heritage through music and dance to reclaim the spirit and substance of this rich taproot of American entertainment, with songs including “Underneath The Harlem Moon,” “Raise a Ruckus,” “Run, N-gger, Run,” “Keep a Song in Your Soul” (written by Fats Waller and Alex Hill in 1930) and many more.