Top Billed Cast

1. 

   Queen Latifah

   Bessie Smith

2. 

   Kamryn Johnson

   Young Bessie

3. 

   Rikki McKinney

   Chorus Guy

4. 

   Alan T. Coleman

   Stagehand

5. 

   Tory Kittles

   Clarence

6. 

   Clay Chappell

   '81' Theatre Owner

7. 

   Tika Sumpter

   Lucille

8. 

   Sharan C. Mansfield

   Miss Taylor

9. 

   Neko Parham

   Rehearsal Director

10. 

    Onira Tarés

    Chorus Girl

11. 

    Jhoni Davis

    Chorus Girl

12. 

    Jim R. Coleman

    Host

13. 

    Melissa Youngblood

    Theatergoer

14. 

    Mo'Nique

    Ma Rainey

15. 

    Jennifer Sears

    Ma's Main Girl

16. 

    Charles S. Dutton

    William 'Pa' Rainey

17. 

    Briana Starks

    Ma's Dancer

18. 

    Todd Allen Durkin

    Nightclub Manager

19. 

    Crystal Lee Brown

    Bessie's Dancer

20. 

    Hunter Womack

    Roadie

21. 

    Christopher Harvey

    Roadie

22. 

    Tia Hendricks

    Doreen Dupree

23. 

    Marie Burke

    Etta Johnson

24. 

    Michael Kenneth Williams

    Jack Gee

25. 

    Terence Rosemore

    Detroit Theater Manager

26. 

    Karri Mack

    Wild Child

27. 

    Kaden Washington Lewis

    Swarm Boy

28. 

    Khandi Alexander

    Viola

29. 

    L. Warren Young

    Sharkish Man

30. 

    Saundra Dunson-Franks

    Hostess

31. 

    Bralyn Stokes

    Harry Herbert Pace

32. 

    Cj Sykes

    Black Swan Executive

33. 

    Adebukola Bodunrin

    Black Swan Receptionist

34. 

    Joe Knezevich

    Frank Walker

35. 

    Mike Epps

    Richard

36. 

    Troy Faruk

    Brave Man

37. 

    David Paul Lord

    Klansman

38. 

    Chris Walters

    Doorman

39. 

    Jessejames Locorriere

    Vanity Fair Editor

40. 

    Oliver Platt

    Carl Van Vechten

41. 

    Whitney Goin

    Fania Van Vechten

42. 

    Jeremie Harris

    Langston Hughes

43. 

    Chantelle Rose Mussenden

    Gertrude

44. 

    Sylvester Ambrose James II

    Jack Gee Jr.

45. 

    Bryan Greenberg

    John Hammond

46. 

    Levi Erik

    Benny Goodman

47. 

    Gerard 'Gus' Williams

    Gangster

48. 

    Tim McAdams

    Shady Guy

49. 

    Kenny Banks Jr.

    Bessie's Band Member

50. 

    Michael Burton

    Bessie's Band Member

51. 

    Roderick Harris

    Bessie's Band Member

52. 

    John A. Harvey

    Bessie's Band Member

53. 

    Reggie Hines

    Bessie's Band Member

54. 

    Kevin Kendrick

    Bessie's Band Member

55. 

    Marcus Lewis

    Bessie's Band Member

56. 

    Kenneth Murray Jr.

    Bessie's Band Member

57. 

    Kwame Paige

    Bessie's Band Member

58. 

    Jason Passmore

    Bessie's Band Member

59. 

    Daniel Saintil

    Bessie's Band Member

60. 

    Craig Shaw

    Bessie's Band Member

61. 

    Don C. Sherow

    Bessie's Band Member

62. 

    Dashiel Smith

    Bessie's Band Member

63. 

    Eric Solomon

    Bessie's Band Member

64. 

    Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

    Bessie's Band Member

65. 

    Teddy White

    Bessie's Band Member

66. 

    Wilbert Williams

    Bessie's Band Member

67. 

    Brandon Boone

    Ma's Band Member

68. 

    Robert Boone

    Ma's Band Member

69. 

    Daniel Terence Harper

    Ma's Band Member

70. 

    Anton Harris

    Ma's Band Member

71. 

    Jody Mayfield

    Ma's Band Member

72. 

    Derrick B. White

    Ma's Band Member

73. 

    Edward Wright

    Ma's Band Member

74. 

    Jonathan Bryant

    Dancer

75. 

    Heather Bland

    Dancer

76. 

    Raquiah Carter

    Dancer

77. 

    Lauren Debrick

    Dancer

78. 

    Desiree Dixon

    Dancer

79. 

    Anthony Hart

    Dancer

80. 

    Nia Lancelin

    Dancer

81. 

    Keshia McNeal

    Dancer

82. 

    Samara Michelle

    Dancer

83. 

    LaVaughn Morton

    Dancer

84. 

    Tiffany Murray

    Dancer

85. 

    Ashley Neal

    Dancer

86. 

    Tiffany Norris

    Dancer

87. 

    Christopher L. Plunkett

    Dancer

88. 

    Stephan Reynolds

    Dancer

89. 

    Nateli Ruiz

    Dancer

90. 

    Primas Leon Stanley

    Dancer

91. 

    Brentney Stephens

    Dancer

92. 

    Dacia Stinson

    Dancer

93. 

    Fred Swinton

    Dancer

94. 

    Sheerod Tate

    Dancer

95. 

    Quiantae Thomas

    Dancer

96. 

    Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

    Dancer

97. 

    Kendre White

    Dancer

98. 

    Selah Avery

    Background Extra (uncredited)

99. 

    Perry Ball

    Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

100. 

     Qualen Bradley

     Stage Crew (uncredited)

101. 

     Alkoya Brunson

     Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

102. 

     Jeffery James Bucchino

     Doorman (uncredited)

103. 

     Judy McGee Burley

     Extra (uncredited)

104. 

     Jess Marie Carr

     Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

105. 

     Jameson Jamey Copeland

     Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

106. 

     Taurus Davis

     Extra (uncredited)

107. 

     Dino Demitri

     KKK Driver (uncredited)

108. 

     Derrick Dee

     Bodyguard (uncredited)

109. 

     Shannon Edwards

     Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

110. 

     Tyrone Emanuel

     Party Guest (uncredited)

111. 

     Samuel Lee Fudge

     Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

112. 

     Adella Gautier

     Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

113. 

     Curtis Gordon

     Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

114. 

     Jermaine Salute Green

     Graveyard Worker (uncredited)

115. 

     Montice Harmon

     Party Goer (uncredited)

116. 

     Roger A. Harrison

     Theater Goer (uncredited)

117. 

     Rob Hays

     Server (uncredited)

118. 

     Sarah Turner Holland

     Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

119. 

     Damita Jane Howard

     Jack's Lover (uncredited)

120. 

     Geoffrey Howard

     Poker Player (uncredited)

121. 

     Charlie Johnson

     Party Goer (uncredited)

122. 

     Noah Hudson Killingbeck

     Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

123. 

     Andre Lamar

     Cheering Fan (uncredited)

124. 

     Trey McGriff

     Pedestrian (uncredited)

125. 

     Lanier McKinney

     Dancer (uncredited)

126. 

     John Merical

     VIP Guest (uncredited)

127. 

     Dan Michael

     Theater Goer (uncredited)

128. 

     Letecia Reeder

     Patron (uncredited)

129. 

     Swift Rice

     Stage Hand (uncredited)

130. 

     Darrell L. Shuler

     Club Goer (uncredited)

131. 

     Alexis Silvestre

     Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

132. 

     Nicole Spiezio

     Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)

133. 

     Dorothea Syleos

     Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

134. 

     Tray Williams

     Stage Crew (uncredited)