News Release: Guy Davis comes to Crossroads with The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues

The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues

Written and Performed by Guy Davis

Directed by Ricardo Khan

Acclaimed bluesman Guy Davis brings the tales and music of the fictional Fishy Waters to Crossroads Theatre Company in his original one-man show, The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues, on stage Feb. 16-26.

Created by Davis over the past 20 years, the spirited Fishy Waters is an itinerant bluesman, who recounts his adventures aboard a boxcar in 1930s America. “There is no tale so tall I cannot tell it, nor song so sweet I cannot sing it,” he presages as he invites the audience to join him on his journey. Davis’ skillful guitar-picked blues coupled with his humorous, organic storytelling grounds audiences in the roots of the blues.   His lively, soulful song transports them to 1930s Depression-era America when hoboes like Fishy swapped tales of their travels over a camp fire, while waiting to hop the next morning’s train in search of work.

Though that era’s hobo culture has become the stuff of legend, Davis’ character speaks to the present as a man who has left a stable, if static, life as a sharecropper to follow his heart while struggling to make ends meet.

In one sequence, Davis tells Fishy’s tale of chain gangs and dog chases in a virtuoso duel of voice and instrument, feeding the revival of interest in authentic, acoustic music and deeply rooted blues. His deceptively simple, yet multi-layered rhythms, guitar-picking, sliding and harmonica phrasing transport listeners to Fishy’s era, when electric guitars and fancy drum sets were not needed to make music.

“Story telling is the most ancient, most powerful magic of the universe,” says Davis, son of acclaimed actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. “I grew up in a house full of story tellers.  I met many more through the years but family members such as my grandpa Marshall (my mom’s dad) and my father were among the very best. My grandpa was famous for his rascally tales and jokes but every once in a while he’d tell about the time his mom killed and cooked his pet chicken and he didn’t realize it until after he had eaten it!  My dad could tell a story over and over and make it fun every time. All these factors came together in my life and were helpful to me in writing The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed With The Blues.” 

Director Ricardo Khan, Crossroads’ co-founder and artistic advisor, has transformed Davis’original musical storytelling into a dramatic stage production with period set design by Sarah Lambert, light design by Victor En Yu Tan and projections by Rocco DiSanti.  

Guy Davis was last seen on the Crossroads stage in the original work Two Ha Ha’s and a Homeboy with his parents Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis.  In addition to being a recipient of the “Keeping the Blues Alive Award,” Guy Davis has been nominated for 10 Blues Music Awards from the Blues Foundation. Over the years, his albums have drawn critical praise and honors from such media outlets as National Public Radio, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle and Acoustic Guitar magazine. Among his many career highlights include performing at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden (leading Steve Earle, Warren Haynes, and the SNL Band in Pete's “False From True,” a song Guy recorded for the Seeger tribute album, Where Have All the Flowers Gone). Also on that show were Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ben Harper and a “Who's Who” of the folk world. Guy's also opened for the legendary Jethro Tull, with Ian Anderson joining him onstage every night. 
 

CROSSROADS THEATRE COMPANY

7 LIVINGSTON AVE., NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ

The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues

Written and Performed by Guy Davis

Directed by Ricardo Khan

February 16-26, 2012

Performances:  Evenings:  8 p.m., February 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25

                            Matinees:  3 p.m., February 19, 25 and 26

                            School Matinee: 10 a.m., February 24

Press Night/Opening Night: Saturday, February 18 at 8pm.

Tickets: $40 previews, $65 for opening night including a reception; $50 all others. Purchase online at www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org or call 732-545-8100. 

Location: Crossroads Theatre, 7 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Website:  www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org

Telephone: 732-545-8100
Photography: Hi-res production jpegs are available

For additional information and to schedule interviews, please contact:

Nobuko Hori  -  908-227-5854, nhori [at] crossroadstheatrecompany [dot] org