Black Nouveau

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Narrator

This is a Black Nouveau web exclusive. Do you smile to Tempt your lover, Mona Lisa -

Narrator

We're continuing our conversation with John-Mark McGaha from the Milwaukee Rep's production

of Unforgettable

The Nat King Cole Story. While this is McGaha's first time at The Rep, it is not the first production from Artists Lounge Live to be performed there. You may remember Alexis J. Royston Sings Ella Fitzgerald. I've got Rhythm I've got music I've got my man Who could as for or anything more And earlier this year, Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland. Forget your troubles come on get happy You better chase all the cares away Shout hallelujah come on get happy Get ready for the judgment day McGaha actually joined Artists Lounge Live in another role -

McGaha

of Unforgettable

Why I was actually first brought into Artist Lounge Live, actually because I do a Stevie Wonder Show with him as well. Oh joy of love There was another gentleman, actually, who was playing, who was doing this particular show, and he decided to do some other things. And so, the opportunity was made, made itself available to me, and because of, as you find out in the show, we have a lot of similarities. I've always looked up to Nat King Cole, and so I was honored and grateful to be able to be responsible for telling his story. L is for the way you look at me Get your kicks on Route 66 And so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from one to ninety-two -

Interviewer

of Unforgettable

Now he did get some criticism from people of color -

McGaha

of Unforgettable

He did -

Interviewer

of Unforgettable

for not being black enough, so to speak. Can you talk about that a little bit? I mean, yeah, you had people like Thurgood Marshall who called him Uncle Nat, you know, he had, you had a lot of people. I think, again, when I talk about the complexities of his story, I think how you encounter the woes and the situations that are happening during the era in which you live determine how you process it, determine how you navigate through it. There is a song from the show, "Hamilton", that I like you know, "I Want to be in the Room Where It Happens." I think he had a great understanding of how important it was for him to be in certain rooms. I think it's easy for people who are not in those rooms to criticize the people who have to do the things they need to do to be in those rooms. Again, I don't know how I would've viewed him at that particular time. had I been there. I don't know what my views would've been. I can say that I think he quite successfully, though, provided imagery and narratives that were very, very necessary. I know that, I know that, you know, I look at the song "Smile", and sometimes you have to smile in the face of adversity because you have to do what is necessary to exist and to walk your, your calling, your assignment Smile though your heart is aching Smile even though it's breaking And McGaha feels that it is his assignment to continue to tell these stories. It's always also been interesting to me how many stories of these incredibly amazing African Americans from, even from Alabama, like Erskine Hawkins and Tuxedo Junction, things like that, this amazing rich history that our own people don't even know. And so, it has always been kind of a passion of mine to express and expose and bring to light truths about our culture that give us a a better understanding of who we are. Mona Lisa Mona Lisa