Steppenwolf Theatre, Ladysmith Black Mambazo reunite for ‘Lindiwe’

A love story about a white blues drummer from Chicago and a South African singer who is touring with Ladysmith pairs the music of the Grammy-winning ensemble with Chicago blues.

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Members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo are photographed with Chicago musician Frank Russell for Steppenwolf Theatre’s world premiere production of “Lindiwe,” whose storyline travels from Chicago’s Kingston Mines to South Africa.

Members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo are photographed with Chicago bass guitarist Frank Russell for Steppenwolf Theatre’s world premiere production of “Lindiwe,” whose storyline travels from Chicago’s Kingston Mines to South Africa.

Frank Ishman

Steppenwolf Theatre has forged many interesting collaborations over its long history but one of the most extraordinary was with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the South African vocal ensemble, which contributed and performed its music in 1992’s “The Song of Jacob Zulu,” (it transferred to Broadway and received six Tony Award nominations) and 1996’s “Nomathemba.”

The driving force behind these productions and a current third collaboration, “Lindiwe,” is ensemble member Eric Simonson. He recalls that it all began when Tug Yourgrau’s “The Song of Jacob Zulu” was chosen from the company’s first playwriting competition but, as plans for a full production began to form, there was an unusual request from the playwright.

‘Lindiwe’

‘Lindiwe’

When: Nov. 7-Jan. 5

Where: Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted

Tickets: $20-$109

Info: steppenwolf.org


“There was a kind of Greek chorus in the play and he insisted it be played by Ladysmith Black Mambazo,” Simonson says. “At the time they were hot off the Paul Simon ‘Graceland’ tour and we thought, ‘Yeah sure that’s going to happen.’ But Tug was persistent and found a way to the group. We did a workshop and quickly realized there was something really special going on here.”

Encouraged by late artistic director Martha Lavey, Simonson kept up his relationship with Ladysmith, visiting the group’s hometown Durban many times and immersing himself in the culture. His 2000 documentary, “On Tiptoe: The Music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo,” received on Oscar nomination. He says Ladysmith’s music has a far-reaching appeal.

“Their music has this very comfortable, soulful, resonant sound that’s unmistakably Ladysmith Black Mambazo,” Simonson says. “There’s something about it that reaches the core, that goes straight to your heart.”

Written by Simonson and co-directed by Simonson and Jonathan Berry, “Lindiwe” is a love story centering on Adam (Erik Hellman), a white blues drummer from Chicago, and Lindiwe (Nondumiso Tembe), a South African singer who is touring with Ladysmith and just starting out in her career. Throughout the 90-minute piece, the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo is paired with Chicago blues.

“The overarching story is the story of their relationship,” Berry says. “How they fall in love and how the music brings them together. But geography makes it impossible to be together in the way that they want. How do you pursue this love and connection but also have this loving connection to the work that you do?”

There are also themes of loss and grieving, says Simonson, adding that both Ladysmith’s members and Steppenwolf’s ensemble have experienced much loss in recent years. (In addition to Lavey, the ensemble also has lost John Mahoney, Mariann Mayberry, Glenne Headly and Malcom Ewen.)

“It was like a gut punch to lose so many members in so short a time,” Simonson recalls. “So we thought we should do something about loss and leaving and combine that with Ladysmith’s music, which is kind of healing and soulful.”

Factory worker Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the early ‘60s with a mission of preserving the traditional music called isicathamiya, which was born in the mines of South Africa. By the early ‘80s the ensemble was the most successful singing group in South Africa which led to the recording of “Graceland” which would go on to win the 1987 Grammy for Album of the Year and bring world music center stage.

In “Lindiwe,” the members of Ladysmith play themselves, perform their music and even help clear the stage between scenes. For performers used to changing things up, the switch to theater always offers new challenges,” says Albert Mazibuko, who has been performing with Ladysmith for 50 years.

“You have to perform the same way today, tomorrow and the next day,” Albert Mazibuko says with a laugh. “When we are doing our show we are flexible; we can change. The play is about discipline and also about collaboration. It’s a good challenge.”

The cross-cultural setting of “Lindiwe” — Chicago and Durban — lends itself easily to the marriage of blues and the South African sounds of Zulu culture. The creative team had no idea how or if this musical mix would work.

“The two music styles combine in a beautiful way I never thought in my wildest dreams would happen,” says Chicago jazz/blues bassist Frank Russell who, with guitarist Buddy Fambro, performs alongside Ladysmith.

Adds Tembe, an actress-singer who grew up in Durban and is making her Steppenwolf debut as Lindiwe: “There are extraordinary skills at work here in terms of how to marry these sounds. The styles are different but there is a shared heartbeat that we’ve all very naturally been able to tap into and connect with.”

Both Simonson and Berry feel something magical happens when you get in the room with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

“I feel that putting together a play can sometimes be painful and exhilarating,” Simonson says. “I never get the painful part when I’m working with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They’re an incredibly positive force. No matter what happens, you come out of the rehearsal room smiling.”

Mary Houlihan is a local freelance writer.

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