The sound for Yellowman, directed by Thomas Ellis, consisted of a mix of music and environmental sound effects.  Music underscored many moments and set the play’s time period and tone at times.  The play opens as Alma talks about the history of the women in her family in America.  Music underscores her speech, ranging from a traditional field holler, to Ma Rainey, to Mahalia Jackson. Here are some selections used:

 

A large part of the play takes place in the 1970’s and we hear Donna Summer playing in the background at a party, Isaac Hayes playing on a radio, and Parliament Funkadelic and Ray Barretto drifitng out the doors of dance clubs in New York.

 

Here are a few other selections that were used to underscore scenes and play through transitions between scenes:

 

Sound also functions to set locations on a minimalistic set.  Children’s voices bring the action to a playground where the two central characters meet in elementary school.

 

The sound of a creaking door opening and slamming, perfectly in sync with the movements of the actors on stage, illustrate a threshold not physically represented.

 

And street sounds bring us into the sharp reality on New York City.