Meet the Minneapolis family behind long-running show 'Black Nativity'
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Every family has their holiday traditions, but few are as complex as one Minneapolis family, whose season revolves around the Penumbra Theatre’s annual production of Black Nativity.
No fewer than five members of the Whitlock family are involved in the show, which tells the Christmas story through gospel and spiritual songs.
Black Nativity
Marianne Combs | MPR News 2013
Lewis Whitlock passed in 2021, but the family continues to keep his legacy and tradition alive. We take you back to 1997 when MPR News reporter Lauran McCallum spoke to the Whitlocks about the production.
Black Nativity is still onstage today, showing Wednesday night through Christmas Eve at the Penumbra Theatre.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
INTERVIEWER: As you know, every family has their holiday traditions. But few are as complex as one Minneapolis family, whose season revolves around the Penumbra Theater's annual production of Black Nativity. No fewer than five members of the Whitlock family are involved in the show, which tells the Christmas story through gospel and spiritual songs. We're going to take you back right now to 1997. That's when MPR reporter Laura McCallum spoke to the Whitlock family about the production, which still is onstage today.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SUBJECT 1: Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The driving force behind the Penumbra Theater's Black Nativity is director, Lewis Whitlock, who came up with the idea of producing the Langston Hughes play 11 years ago. Just four other cast members have been with Black Nativity its entire history. And two of them are Lewis's sisters, costume designer and performer Deidre Whitlock, and ensemble member Dara Caesar. Their sister-in-law, Jennifer Whitlock, came on board eight years ago. And now Dara's 10-year-old daughter, Kia, is in the cast.
Lewis Whitlock says, initially, he never pictured his family members in the show. In fact, when the idea of casting his sister in another play first hit him, he felt compelled to discuss the situation with Penumbra's artistic director.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: I went to Lewis Bellamy. And I told him, I said, this character, she sounds like my sister Dara, the same kind of loving, and demanding, and challenging, and all of that character was. So he said, so what's the problem? And I said, well, she's my sister? And he said, OK fine. He said, so you're worried about nepotism? And I said, yes. And he said, well, I'll tell you what. You have her come in and I will audition her. And he did.
DARA CAESAR: Sweet little Jesus boy. They made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child.
LAURA MCCALLUM: Dara Caesar, an accomplished vocalist, says she's always admired her older brother and his work. So it was a thrill to be able to learn from him.
DARA CAESAR: I always felt like I'm coming on to his turf. And so it's like, OK, which way do you want me to go? What do you want me to do? How do you want me to sing? And so it was-- it was just a joy watching his art and being a part of his art.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The Whitlock's say they're careful to keep their relationship professional rather than familial on the set. Lewis still tends to rattle off his family member's credentials as if to prove they earned their slots in the cast. Costume designer, Deidre, has a degree in fashion design. And performer, Jennifer, is a member of the Grammy award-winning gospel group Sounds of Blackness.
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: Oh brother, in my way.
SUBJECT 2: My way is [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: My way.
SUBJECT 2: My way is [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: My way.
SUBJECT 2: My way is [INAUDIBLE]. Send one in [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: Oh brother, in my way--
SUBJECT 2: My way--
LAURA MCCALLUM: It's obvious why this family continues its involvement in Black Nativity year after year. The Whitlocks can't say enough about how it inspires them and touches people's lives with its spiritual message. Deidre remembers how moved she was the first year Penumbra did the show.
DEIDRE WHITLOCK: They were singing, "No Room". And so Lewis was looking for me to give me some notes. But I'm back out there in the hallway just totally falling apart. Yes, the show truly has my heart. It's a wonderful, spiritual piece. There was no room.
SUBJECT 2: No room.
DEIDRE WHITLOCK: At the hotel.
SUBJECT 2: No room.
DEIDRE WHITLOCK: There was no room.
SUBJECT 2: No room.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The Whitlocks say far from feeling family pressure to perform in Black Nativity each year, they can't imagine not having the show to look forward to. They say it rejuvenates them. When asked whether he's ever considered taking a year off, Lewis Whitlock is shocked.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Oh no. Not even-- it has never crossed my mind. From everything else in my life, yes. But not from doing Black Nativity. Black Nativity has always been like three shots of vitamin B12. It was an anchoring. It was-- it's really an important part of my artistic community.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The Whitlocks admit being part of Black Nativity's seven-performance-a-week schedule does make the holiday season hectic. But they all agree with Jennifer, when she says the production keeps them focused on the true meaning of Christmas, and the importance of family.
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: Quite frankly, my best friends are my family. So it's always been that tight. And I can only remember one time in my life not being home for Christmas, and vowed that that would probably never ever ever happen again. So no matter how busy things are with work, and show, whatever, that's one piece that I'm determined myself, along with everybody else, to make sure it continues to happen.
LAURA MCCALLUM: So near the end of Black Nativity's five-week run, the Whitlock's extended family will gather at Lewis's home to celebrate Christmas. Lewis says cast members will also be there. They're considered family as well. And among the crowd will be Jennifer's seven-year-old daughter [? Kavan, ?] who's been asking when she too can be part of Black Nativity. I'm Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Anybody ask you--
SUBJECT 2: Who I am.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Who I am.
SUBJECT 2: Who I am.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Who I am.
INTERVIEWER: That was Laura McCallum talking to the Whitlock family back in 1997. Lewis Whitlock passed away in 2021, but the family's still keeping his legacy and tradition alive. You can see Black Nativity tomorrow night through Christmas Eve at the Penumbra.
SUBJECT 3: If anybody ask you--
SUBJECT 2: Who you are. Tell them I'm a child of God.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Oh, there's a little old cradle that rocks in glory, rocks in glory, oh rocks in glory. There's a little old cradle that rocks in glory. Jesus is born in--
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SUBJECT 1: Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The driving force behind the Penumbra Theater's Black Nativity is director, Lewis Whitlock, who came up with the idea of producing the Langston Hughes play 11 years ago. Just four other cast members have been with Black Nativity its entire history. And two of them are Lewis's sisters, costume designer and performer Deidre Whitlock, and ensemble member Dara Caesar. Their sister-in-law, Jennifer Whitlock, came on board eight years ago. And now Dara's 10-year-old daughter, Kia, is in the cast.
Lewis Whitlock says, initially, he never pictured his family members in the show. In fact, when the idea of casting his sister in another play first hit him, he felt compelled to discuss the situation with Penumbra's artistic director.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: I went to Lewis Bellamy. And I told him, I said, this character, she sounds like my sister Dara, the same kind of loving, and demanding, and challenging, and all of that character was. So he said, so what's the problem? And I said, well, she's my sister? And he said, OK fine. He said, so you're worried about nepotism? And I said, yes. And he said, well, I'll tell you what. You have her come in and I will audition her. And he did.
DARA CAESAR: Sweet little Jesus boy. They made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child.
LAURA MCCALLUM: Dara Caesar, an accomplished vocalist, says she's always admired her older brother and his work. So it was a thrill to be able to learn from him.
DARA CAESAR: I always felt like I'm coming on to his turf. And so it's like, OK, which way do you want me to go? What do you want me to do? How do you want me to sing? And so it was-- it was just a joy watching his art and being a part of his art.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The Whitlock's say they're careful to keep their relationship professional rather than familial on the set. Lewis still tends to rattle off his family member's credentials as if to prove they earned their slots in the cast. Costume designer, Deidre, has a degree in fashion design. And performer, Jennifer, is a member of the Grammy award-winning gospel group Sounds of Blackness.
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: Oh brother, in my way.
SUBJECT 2: My way is [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: My way.
SUBJECT 2: My way is [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: My way.
SUBJECT 2: My way is [INAUDIBLE]. Send one in [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: Oh brother, in my way--
SUBJECT 2: My way--
LAURA MCCALLUM: It's obvious why this family continues its involvement in Black Nativity year after year. The Whitlocks can't say enough about how it inspires them and touches people's lives with its spiritual message. Deidre remembers how moved she was the first year Penumbra did the show.
DEIDRE WHITLOCK: They were singing, "No Room". And so Lewis was looking for me to give me some notes. But I'm back out there in the hallway just totally falling apart. Yes, the show truly has my heart. It's a wonderful, spiritual piece. There was no room.
SUBJECT 2: No room.
DEIDRE WHITLOCK: At the hotel.
SUBJECT 2: No room.
DEIDRE WHITLOCK: There was no room.
SUBJECT 2: No room.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The Whitlocks say far from feeling family pressure to perform in Black Nativity each year, they can't imagine not having the show to look forward to. They say it rejuvenates them. When asked whether he's ever considered taking a year off, Lewis Whitlock is shocked.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Oh no. Not even-- it has never crossed my mind. From everything else in my life, yes. But not from doing Black Nativity. Black Nativity has always been like three shots of vitamin B12. It was an anchoring. It was-- it's really an important part of my artistic community.
LAURA MCCALLUM: The Whitlocks admit being part of Black Nativity's seven-performance-a-week schedule does make the holiday season hectic. But they all agree with Jennifer, when she says the production keeps them focused on the true meaning of Christmas, and the importance of family.
JENNIFER WHITLOCK: Quite frankly, my best friends are my family. So it's always been that tight. And I can only remember one time in my life not being home for Christmas, and vowed that that would probably never ever ever happen again. So no matter how busy things are with work, and show, whatever, that's one piece that I'm determined myself, along with everybody else, to make sure it continues to happen.
LAURA MCCALLUM: So near the end of Black Nativity's five-week run, the Whitlock's extended family will gather at Lewis's home to celebrate Christmas. Lewis says cast members will also be there. They're considered family as well. And among the crowd will be Jennifer's seven-year-old daughter [? Kavan, ?] who's been asking when she too can be part of Black Nativity. I'm Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Anybody ask you--
SUBJECT 2: Who I am.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Who I am.
SUBJECT 2: Who I am.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Who I am.
INTERVIEWER: That was Laura McCallum talking to the Whitlock family back in 1997. Lewis Whitlock passed away in 2021, but the family's still keeping his legacy and tradition alive. You can see Black Nativity tomorrow night through Christmas Eve at the Penumbra.
SUBJECT 3: If anybody ask you--
SUBJECT 2: Who you are. Tell them I'm a child of God.
LEWIS WHITLOCK: Oh, there's a little old cradle that rocks in glory, rocks in glory, oh rocks in glory. There's a little old cradle that rocks in glory. Jesus is born in--
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