"Who Is Eartha Mae?" - by Jade Wheeler - Hanover Theatre THT Rep (Worcester, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jade Wheeler stars in THT Rep's "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" now playing at the BrickBox Theater in Worcester, MA. until April 19, 2026. Photo Courtesy THT Rep and the Hanover Theatre)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"I don't carry myself as a black person but as a woman that belongs to everybody. After all, it's the general public that made me - not any one particular group. So I don't think of myself as belonging to any particular group and never have.”
- Eartha Kitt
The Hanover Theatre THT Rep
Presents Jade Wheeler's
"WHO IS EARTHA MAE?"
Written and Performed by Jade Wheeler**
Director Livy Scanlon
Music Director/Pianist Catherine Stornetta
Choreographer - Joanne Caidor
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design - Peter M. Rule; Costume Design - Kathleen Doyle; Production Manager - Lisa Hackman; Hair Braiding - Yvette Joney; Ligting Deign - Stephen Petrilli***; Makeup Artist - Tricia Bryan; Wardrobe Supervisor - Perri Sylvester; Production Stage Manager - Jane Siebels*; Sound Design/Technical Director - Kevin McGerigle; Sound Board Operator - Alyssa Swible-Martinez; Wardrobe/Run Crew - Natalie Cusimano.
* Member, Actors' Equity Association
** Appearing Courtesy of Actor's Equity Association
*** Member, United Scenic Artists, Local 829
Performances:
April 8, 2026 through April 19, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Presented at the BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, 20 Franklin Street, Worcester, MA. 01608
TICKETS:
For more information contact the box office at # 877-571-7469 or email boxoffice@jmacworcester.org
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
The Hanover Theatre THT Rep (THT Rep) brings the pawsitively delightful "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" to the BrickBox Theatre in Worcester for a limited run.
The acclaimed one-performer show has been created by and stars Jade Wheeler, exploring the life, music, and complex personality of iconic entertainer Eartha Kitt.
Told through story and song with live piano, "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" as staged by THT Rep artistic director Livy Scanlon, details Kitt’s journey from poverty to stardom, her activism, and her "feline charisma."
Wheeler has described her own performance as "EARTHA MAE" as an "investigation rather than an imitation" and I would say that is an accurate description.
For, when one first looks at Wheeler in the show's immersive, intimate setting, one might not initially “see” Eartha Kitt, but you will find yourself quickly accepting her as "EARTHA MAE."
Wheeler does offer up some fine impressions of other characters impactful in EARTHA's life, adding another dimension to the one-performer experience.
Then, later on, Wheeler surprises us by fully embodying MAE's “alter ego” – the sultry “Santa Baby” chanteuse Eartha Kitt.
Other notable songs by Kitt include "C'est Si Bon" and "I Want to Be Evil."
(Photo: Jade Wheeler stars in THT Rep's "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" now playing at the BrickBox Theater in Worcester, MA. until April 19, 2026. Photo Courtesy THT Rep and the Hanover Theatre)
As described in the show, Orson Welles and Eartha Kitt worked together on stage in the 1950 play “Time Runs” (also known as “The Blessed and the Damned”), a version of the Faust legend performed in Paris with Kitt playing “Helen of Troy.”
Kitt would eventually move onto the small screen, making numerous appearances in television series of the 1950s and 1960s.
To a generation that came of age during the 2000s, they might only know of Kitt as the voice of “Yzma” from the Disney movie “The Emperor’s New Groove” and subsequent series “Emperor’s New School.”
Others closer to MY generation, though, probably first became aware of Kitt as the third and final “Catwoman” from the 1960s television series “Batman” – personally my favorite Catwoman (no offense to Julie Newmar, who defined the role but was replaced by Kitt because Newmar was unavailable).
There’s a funny side story to the above:
During the 60s and 70s, prior to the emergence of “cable” came the advent of “UHF” and in Boston the only way to watch “Batman” among other reruns was on local UHF station Channel 56.
Channel 56 also ran the series “Mission Impossible” but for some reason never obtained the rights for the first season, the 1967 season in which Kitt appeared in one episode entitled “The Traitor.”
So, I would not actually view this episode until three decades later when the show was released on DVD - and it would be at least another decade before it became available on streaming services.
And yet, it was only by watching this episode where I was introduced to the amazing versatility of Kitt not only as a singer and actress but also as an acrobat and dancer.
This single episode prompted me to learn more about the career of the late Kitt and opened my eyes to the breadth of her life and career.
I encourage readers to check out this episode some time – because for 1967 her character is crucial to the show’s plot and as played by Kitt comes across as - to quote somebody who came of age during the 2000s - "totally badass."
Wheeler’s show courtesy of THT Rep features live piano accompaniment by the show’s music director Catherine Stornetta, elevating the show which provides us with an intimate insight into Kitt’s public persona and private self.
(Photo: Jade Wheeler stars in THT Rep's "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" now playing at the BrickBox Theater in Worcester, MA. until April 19, 2026. Photo Courtesy THT Rep and the Hanover Theatre)
THT Rep's "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" is a charming show that explores Eartha Kitt’s extensive career as both singer and actress, but Wheeler also details Kitt's legacy as an “unapologetic voice,” spearheading many civil rights causes, praised for her persistent activism and overcoming adversity, both personal and professional.
As we soon discover through Wheeler’s expertly crafted performance, Kitt emerged from a difficult upbringing and having then to walk a professional tightrope during the industry’s less enlightened days, even to the point of political blacklisting.
Kitt overcame these many obstacles by being a strong-willed individual and a veritable force of nature.
THT Rep’s "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" continues at the BrickBox Theater in Worcester, MA., until April 19th, 2026.
THT Rep has also announced its exciting 2026-2027 season which will include:
- William Shakespeare’s "ROMEO AND JULIET" running from September 23rd, 2026 through October 10th, 2026.
- The Tony Award-winning musical "HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH" from February 3rd, 2027 through February 21st, 2027.
- Finally, the season concludes with another Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "FAT HAM" running from March 31st, 2027 through April 11th, 2027.
For more information contact the THT Rep box office at # 877-571-7469 or email boxoffice@jmacworcester.org
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Approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
(Photo: Jade Wheeler stars in THT Rep's "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" now playing at the BrickBox Theater in Worcester, MA. until April 19, 2026. Photo Courtesy THT Rep and the Hanover Theatre)
ABOUT THE SHOW
Created and performed by Jade Wheeler in "WHO IS EARTHA MAE?" you will meet EARTHA KITT, icon of stage and screen, in this original one-woman play with music featuring live piano accompaniment.
“I remember thinking, is this my wonderful country? And I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry… so I did both. Because you don’t stop EARTHA.”
For more information contact the box office at # 877-571-7469 or via email boxoffice@jmacworcester.org
BUY TICKETS
ABOUT THT REP
The arts play a vital role in helping individuals of all ages develop self-esteem, compassion and problem solving skills. Students who study or participate in the arts have proven academic success. They find their voice and discover new avenues for creative expression. It is the goal of THT REP to maximize a student’s social and emotional development while introducing them to theatre, dance, music and design. In addition, access to state-of-the-art equipment and hands-on training with industry professionals in our world-class venue allows students to gain real-world experience in the performing arts field.
ABOUT THE VENUE
With its industrial aesthetic and intimate seating, the BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center is perfect for fresh, sophisticated stagings of classic works.
THT REP at the BrickBox Theater
Jean McDonough Arts Center
20 Franklin Street
Worcester, MA. 01608
# 508-413-JMAC / # 877-571-SHOW (Box Office)
boxoffice@jmacworcester.org
