Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Tickets

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Play Tickets 

See the award-winning play with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom tickets. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was written by August Wilson in 1982 and centers around the life of famed blues singer Ma Rainey. Set in a Chicago recording studio, the play grapples with issues of art, religion and the racism experienced by African-American musicians in the early 20th century. 

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom premiered at Connecticut’s Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, starring Theresa Merritt as Ma Rainey. Within two years the play had moved to Broadway, where it ran for nearly 300 performances. Wilson’s themes of expression and exploitation were enormously well-received, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom earned numerous awards and accolades. It won the following 1985 Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play, as well as a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Play. 

The play has since been revived on numerous occasions, enjoying particular success in 2016 at London’s National Theatre where it received a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival. In 2020 the play was adapted into a film by Ruben Santiago-Hudson and George C. Wolfe, starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, which met with widespread critical acclaim. Be sure to buy Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom tickets for a seat in the audience to see this thought-provoking play yourself.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Tickets for Every Budget

TicketSmarter makes it easy to find tickets that fit your budget:

• Premium Orchestra Seats: $315.00 per ticket
• Balcony Seats: $69.25 per ticket
  Touring Performances: Prices are often 50-75% lower than Broadway productions in New York
• Last-Minute Tickets: Sometimes it pays to wait. Browse and buy tickets up until curtain call without having to bother with a lottery.

Tickets to this run of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom range from $35.10 to $315.00 for premium views of the stage.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 2026 Show Schedule

Check the Ma Rainey's Black Bottom schedule above to find a date and venue near you. For resident productions, shows are typically scheduled Tuesday through Sunday with matinées on Saturday and Sunday. Don’t miss your chance to see Ma Rainey's Black Bottom live in 2026.

The next production of this play will take place on April 2nd, 2026 at 7:30pm at Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL.

When Do Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Tickets Go on Sale?

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom tickets typically go on sale 24-48 hours after new dates are announced.

Grab your Ma Rainey's Black Bottom tickets before they’re gone!

Book your Ma Rainey's Black Bottom tickets to see the show everyone is talking about! TicketSmarter will have the dates and times listed above once the show’s schedule is announced. Whether you stay close to home for a touring production or take a trip to Broadway, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is sure to be a show to remember!