Local thespians bring Nina Simone to life at Milwaukee Rep

Nina Simone was one of the leading voices in the civil rights movement. I'll introduce you to these ladies who help bring her spirit and spunk to the stage here at the Milwaukee Rep.

Actress Alexis J. Roston has taken on many roles at the Milwaukee Rep including the legendary Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. From now until May 12th she's playing the woman known as the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone. "The voice of the voice, right? But the impact that she left on the people is astounding to me," said Roston.

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I asked her about the music and how she's been able to digest it and relay how Simone felt through the music. "The intent into the eye of the woman is something that hits you right away. I don't know that you can listen to this music and not feel it. You know and that's the thing I loved about her is you feel it," answered Roston.

Nina Simone composed over 500 songs and recorded almost 60 albums. Her fiery themes such as "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" and "Four Women" stand the test of time. She strongly believed that as an artist, your music should reflect the times.

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Roston agrees, "It took root with her; it created a seed of probably first anger and resentment and bitterness....you were listening. Yeah, you know, and from there, we got some amazing music."

Milwaukee native and Marquette grad, Malkia Stampley is the Director of this production and calls it a full-circle moment.

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"You come from an acting family brother, big Broadway star, your husband acts, your kids act. It's in you, and it's just amazing to see you be able to bring your talent to the Milwaukee Rep to showcase to people who watched you grow and really display who you are in this space. Yes, it is an honor," said Stampley.

Some key things that stood out to me that I thought brought true emotion were first and foremost, on the set. If you look at the photos that line the wall, instant chill bumps. You see Breonna Taylor, you see Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"What Nina Simone was fighting for and writing about in 1963 her song 'Mississippi God****, you could see it today, when you think about those who have been killed Dontre Hamilton and others in Milwaukee and around the country. And so the best way we knew to do that, without changing the setting of the play was to do this gesture, this artistic gesture, and pay homage to them, because we knew Nina would today and blending the past with the present and showing the fight isn't done," Stampley said.

"She was unapologetically Nina and even sometimes that was too much for her!

This piece was shot by photojournalist Re'Nesha Donson.

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