Cast
Queen Latifah
Bessie Smith
KJ
Kamryn Johnson
Young Bessie
RM
Rikki McKinney
Chorus Guy
ATC
Alan T. Coleman
Stagehand
Tory Kittles
Clarence
CC
Clay Chappell
'81' Theatre Owner
Tika Sumpter
Lucille
SCM
Sharan C. Mansfield
Miss Taylor
Neko Parham
Rehearsal Director
Onira Tarés
Chorus Girl
Jhoni Davis
Chorus Girl
Jim R. Coleman
Host
MY
Melissa Youngblood
Theatergoer
Mo'Nique
Ma Rainey
Jennifer Sears
Ma's Main Girl
Charles S. Dutton
William 'Pa' Rainey
Briana Starks
Ma's Dancer
Todd Allen Durkin
Nightclub Manager
Crystal Lee Brown
Bessie's Dancer
Hunter Womack
Roadie
Christopher Harvey
Roadie
Tia Hendricks
Doreen Dupree
Marie Burke
Etta Johnson
Michael Kenneth Williams
Jack Gee
Terence Rosemore
Detroit Theater Manager
KM
Karri Mack
Wild Child
Kaden Washington Lewis
Swarm Boy
Khandi Alexander
Viola
L. Warren Young
Sharkish Man
SD
Saundra Dunson-Franks
Hostess
Bralyn Stokes
Harry Herbert Pace
CS
Cj Sykes
Black Swan Executive
AB
Adebukola Bodunrin
Black Swan Receptionist
Joe Knezevich
Frank Walker
Mike Epps
Richard
Troy Faruk
Brave Man
DPL
David Paul Lord
Klansman
CW
Chris Walters
Doorman
Jessejames Locorriere
Vanity Fair Editor
Oliver Platt
Carl Van Vechten
Whitney Goin
Fania Van Vechten
Jeremie Harris
Langston Hughes
CRM
Chantelle Rose Mussenden
Gertrude
Sylvester Ambrose James II
Jack Gee Jr.
Bryan Greenberg
John Hammond
Levi Erik
Benny Goodman
G'W
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Gangster
Tim McAdams
Shady Guy
Kenny Banks Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
MB
Michael Burton
Bessie's Band Member
RH
Roderick Harris
Bessie's Band Member
JAH
John A. Harvey
Bessie's Band Member
RH
Reggie Hines
Bessie's Band Member
KK
Kevin Kendrick
Bessie's Band Member
ML
Marcus Lewis
Bessie's Band Member
KMJ
Kenneth Murray Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
KP
Kwame Paige
Bessie's Band Member
JP
Jason Passmore
Bessie's Band Member
DS
Daniel Saintil
Bessie's Band Member
CS
Craig Shaw
Bessie's Band Member
DCS
Don C. Sherow
Bessie's Band Member
DS
Dashiel Smith
Bessie's Band Member
ES
Eric Solomon
Bessie's Band Member
JCSJ
Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.
Bessie's Band Member
TW
Teddy White
Bessie's Band Member
WW
Wilbert Williams
Bessie's Band Member
BB
Brandon Boone
Ma's Band Member
RB
Robert Boone
Ma's Band Member
DTH
Daniel Terence Harper
Ma's Band Member
AH
Anton Harris
Ma's Band Member
JM
Jody Mayfield
Ma's Band Member
DBW
Derrick B. White
Ma's Band Member
EW
Edward Wright
Ma's Band Member
JB
Jonathan Bryant
Dancer
HB
Heather Bland
Dancer
RC
Raquiah Carter
Dancer
LD
Lauren Debrick
Dancer
DD
Desiree Dixon
Dancer
AH
Anthony Hart
Dancer
NL
Nia Lancelin
Dancer
KM
Keshia McNeal
Dancer
SM
Samara Michelle
Dancer
LM
LaVaughn Morton
Dancer
TM
Tiffany Murray
Dancer
AN
Ashley Neal
Dancer
TN
Tiffany Norris
Dancer
Christopher L. Plunkett
Dancer
SR
Stephan Reynolds
Dancer
NR
Nateli Ruiz
Dancer
PLS
Primas Leon Stanley
Dancer
BS
Brentney Stephens
Dancer
DS
Dacia Stinson
Dancer
FS
Fred Swinton
Dancer
ST
Sheerod Tate
Dancer
QT
Quiantae Thomas
Dancer
A'T
Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson
Dancer
KW
Kendre White
Dancer
SA
Selah Avery
Background Extra (uncredited)
PB
Perry Ball
Railroad Passenger (uncredited)
QB
Qualen Bradley
Stage Crew (uncredited)
Alkoya Brunson
Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)
JJB
Jeffery James Bucchino
Doorman (uncredited)
JMB
Judy McGee Burley
Extra (uncredited)
JMC
Jess Marie Carr
Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)
JJC
Jameson Jamey Copeland
Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)
Taurus Davis
Extra (uncredited)
DD
Dino Demitri
KKK Driver (uncredited)
DD
Derrick Dee
Bodyguard (uncredited)
SE
Shannon Edwards
Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)
TE
Tyrone Emanuel
Party Guest (uncredited)
SLF
Samuel Lee Fudge
Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)
Adella Gautier
Neighbor #2 (uncredited)
CG
Curtis Gordon
Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)
MH
Montice Harmon
Party Goer (uncredited)
RH
Rob Hays
Server (uncredited)
STH
Sarah Turner Holland
Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)
Damita Jane Howard
Jack's Lover (uncredited)
GH
Geoffrey Howard
Poker Player (uncredited)
CJ
Charlie Johnson
Party Goer (uncredited)
NHK
Noah Hudson Killingbeck
Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)
Andre Lamar
Cheering Fan (uncredited)
Trey McGriff
Pedestrian (uncredited)
LM
Lanier McKinney
Dancer (uncredited)
John Merical
VIP Guest (uncredited)
Dan Michael
Theater Goer (uncredited)
LR
Letecia Reeder
Patron (uncredited)
Swift Rice
Stage Hand (uncredited)
DLS
Darrell L. Shuler
Club Goer (uncredited)
AS
Alexis Silvestre
Pretzel Guy (uncredited)
Nicole Spiezio
Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)
Dorothea Syleos
Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
TW
Tray Williams
Stage Crew (uncredited)
Crew
Queen Latifah
Production
LFZ
Lili Fini Zanuck
Production
MTB
Michael T. Boyd
Costume & Make-Up
SS
Shelby Stone
Production
BH
Billy Hopkins
Production
DM
Drew Monahan
Art
RM
Randi Michel
Production
Rachel Portman
Sound
Brian A. Kates
Editing
SC
Shakim Compere
Production
Hallie Foote
Production
TK
Traci Kirshbaum
Art
Richard D. Zanuck
Production
RS
Ron Schmidt
Production
CH
Clark Hunter
Art
Dee Rees
Directing
BG
Bettina Gilois
Writing
Horton Foote
Writing
Dee Rees
Writing
Dee Rees
Writing
Jeffrey Jur
Camera
CC
Christopher Cleveland
Writing
RS
Ron Schmidt
Production
MJM
Michael J. Moore
Directing
BVDW
Basti Van Der Woude
Directing
AM
Anderson Martin
Crew
BS
Brooke Satrazemis
Directing
DY
Debi Young
Costume & Make-Up
