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is the performance, what does it look like?' Often we see this angelic, pure life, nothing wrong, right? But, even biblically, it doesn't even claim we can do that, do you know what I mean? She invited humanity. She invited joy. She invited intimacy. … That too was God. She was every woman." Given her vast accomplishments, it's unconscionable that she's not as much a household name as early rock influences like Elvis Presley or Jerry Lee Lewis, both of whom were great admirers. "Say, man, there's a woman who can sing some rock 'n' roll," Lewis said of Tharpe, and Bob Dylan called Tharpe "anything but ordinary and plain. She was a big, good-lookin' woman and divine, not to mention sublime and splendid." Johnny Cash referenced her influence in his speech at his 1992 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Tharpe — whose career started two decades before Cash's — was not inducted into the Hall of Fame until 2018, and, like so many other talented Black artists, without whom American popular music would not exist, the extent of her influence is largely missing from common knowledge. When she died, she was buried in a grave that went unmarked for three decades. Broadnax, who directed a production of the play at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre with the same cast this summer — and assistant directed another production before that — says no matter how many times he revisits the material, Tharpe and Knight's story continues to inspire him. "I love these women, and I love this play — it is my favorite play," he says. "Because of the spiritual component. It's so moving. As many times as I've worked on this production, I still sit in a room and, as we work, I get moved. I get spiritually enhanced, taught, every time, reviewing the scripture she says. We often, in rehearsal, talk about spirit and scripture and spirituality and emotion. It's just so personal to me, this play. I love it. It's an honor any time I get to be around this cast and this work." One of the inspirational things about performing the show in Little Rock — around an hour away from Cotton Plant, Ark., where Tharpe was born — was meeting theatergoers that hailed from that same small town, says Broadnax. "There were quite a few people that came and grabbed us and said, 'Hey, I'm from Cotton Plant,'" he says. "It was so beautiful to see, because I believe you don't know who you are until you see your reflection, and to come from a place like Cotton Plant, Arkansas, that's not very talked about, and see your reflection, your humanity and your value and worth projected through these women is wonderful. And so they embraced it and enjoyed it. That was beautiful to experience." Over the years, there have been signs the world is starting to acknowledge Tharpe's enormous contributions to American popular music. In addition to her induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the United States Post Office issued a memorial stamp in 1989, a comprehensive biography of her was written in 2007 and several documentaries have established Tharpe's bonafides as one of the founders of rock 'n' roll. In 2009, a benefit concert raised the funds to finally purchase a proper headstone to mark the spot in a cemetery in Philadelphia where Tharpe is laid to rest. Lifelong friend Roxie Moore wrote the epitaph. It reads, "She would sing until you cried and then she would sing until you danced for joy. She helped to keep the church alive and the saints rejoicing." YOU KNOW YOU WANNA SIT WITH US. Broadway Supporters: Bob & Becky Alexander Friends of Broadway Broadway Series Sponsor: Media Support: Additional support provided by Brett & Kara Biggs DEC. 14-19 | 8 SHOWS! Show Sponsor: 6 WHAT'S UP! NOVEMBER 14-20, 2021 T2 Continued From Page 5 FAYETTEVILLE