

National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky
Synopsis
New York, 1930. Following a decade of creative explosion, the Harlem Renaissance is starting to feel the bite of the Great Depression. In the face of hardship and dwindling opportunity, Angel and her friends battle to keep their artistic dreams alive. But, when Angel falls for a stranger from Alabama, their romance forces the group to make good on their ambitions, or give in to the reality of the time. Lynette Linton directs a startling revival of this extraordinary play by Pearl Cleage.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lynette Linton
- Screenplay & Story
- Pearl Cleage
- Original Score
- Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
- Original Title
- National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 45m
- Production Studios
- National Theatre
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lynette Linton
Pearl Cleage
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Department Leadership Roster
Lynette Linton
Director
Pearl Cleage
Writer
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky.
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National Theatre Live
All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.
National Theatre
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Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky about?
New York, 1930. Following a decade of creative explosion, the Harlem Renaissance is starting to feel the bite of the Great Depression. In the face of hardship and dwindling opportunity, Angel and her friends battle to keep their artistic dreams alive. But, when Angel falls for a stranger from Alabama, their romance forces the group to make good on their ambitions, or give in to the reality of the time. Lynette Linton directs a startling revival of this extraordinary play by Pearl Cleage.
Who directed National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky?
National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky was directed by Lynette Linton.
Who stars in National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky?
The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky includes Samira Wiley, Giles Terera, Sule Rimi, Osy Ikhile, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo.
When was National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky released and how long is it?
National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky was released in 2022 with a total runtime of 2h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky?
The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: Blues for an Alabama Sky was composed by Benjamin Kwasi Burrell.




















