Radiotopia Presents: Red for Revolution

Radiotopia

Society & Culture, Fiction

4.4 • 989 Ratings

🗓️ 29 January 2025

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Red for Revolution is an enthralling audio drama that tells the passionate love story between jazz singer Lorraine Giovanni and activist Ella Ali. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of 18-year-old Jazmine, who is coming of age and seeking wisdom from her grandmother, Ella. As Jazmine conducts heartfelt interviews with her grandmother, listeners are transported between the vibrant present and the tumultuous year of 1971, encountering a captivating array of characters and experiencing an epic romance that transcends time.

Red for Revolution is created, written, and directed by Jana Naomi Smith, with musical direction by Tammy L. Hall and sound design by Collin Gerald Thomas. Original music by Tammy L. Hall and Jana Naomi Smith, and performed by Renée Wilson, Loretta Devine, and Jordan Hull featuring the Red for Revolution band: Tammy L. Hall on piano, Kofy Brown on electric bass, Ruth Davies on acoustic bass, Ruthie Price on drums, Kristen Strom on saxophone and flute, and Vicki Randle on percussion. The series is executive produced by Renée Wilson, Jana Naomi Smith, and Meta Mana Media with associate producers Jordan Hull, Adrian Snegg, and Vanessa E. Williams. All episodes produced by Liz McBee.

The Red for Revolution team would like to thank each person who helped bring this project to life. Please visit redforrevolution.com for the complete credit and gratitude list.

Performances featured in order of appearance:

adrienne maree brown as Series Sonic Guide
Jordan Hull as Jazmine
S. Epatha Merkerson as Ella Ali (Present Day)
Caro Guzmán as Adrienne
Loretta Devine as Lorraine Giovanni (Present Day)
Rutina Wesley as Ella Ali (1970s)
Renée Wilson as Lorraine Giovanni (1970s)
Alimi Ballard as LeRoy
Don Daniels as Sean
Vanessa E. Williams as Barbra Graves
Jennifer Beals as Suzanne Sands
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Delores Ali
Danny Glover as Howard Ali

Song Featured:

"Revolution" — Written by Jana Naomi Smith. Original composition by Tammy L. Hall. Performed by Renée Wilson and the Red For Revolution Band

Learn more about Red for Revolution at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Radiotopia Presents from PRX's Radiotopia.
0:06.9	Hello listeners. My name is Adrienne Marie Brown, and you are listening to a sneak peek of Red for Revolution, the audio drama.
0:17.8	I'm Jasmine James, and I am figuring out out my sexuality and the only one I feel comfortable
0:24.3	sharing that with is my favorite person in the world, my grandma.
0:27.9	My name is Ella Ali and I'm working towards becoming a revolutionary black woman.
0:34.6	Honestly, I thought she'd be disappointed in learning about who I am and who I love.
0:38.3	But to my surprise, it turned out we have a lot more in common.
0:42.3	Did you tell your grandmother that you got in touch with the Lorraine Giovanni?
0:47.3	I miss Giovanni to some, Lorraine, to few.
0:52.3	I sing for the people and I spread the gospel for the Lord
0:55.7	and my grandmother's alive and healthy
0:57.9	and she's willing to tell the greatest
0:59.6	love story I've ever heard
1:01.1	on Ella
1:01.8	Ali, darling
1:03.4	everyone knows who you are
1:05.4	Revolution is today
1:07.4	and now it's just on the streets
1:09.4	or at the church
1:10.4	it's at your home it's at your church it's at your home it's at your door
1:12.6	it's in your heart it's right now and my goodness it's a story I know who you really
1:18.2	been out there chasing after did you mean what you say to nose letter that you love her the court
	...

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