Rutgers-Camden Theater Presenting Hand Me Down the Silver Trumpet During Black History Month

Blues, jazz, and soul– all pillars of the music industry, and all indicative of the influence that African American culture and artists have had on the arts. What better way to highlight these origins than through a musical production highlighting the genres’ liveliness, uniqueness, and legacy?

Rutgers University’s Camden Campus, just over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, is kicking off Black History Month and its 2026 calendar of productions with Hand Me Down the Silver Trumpet, a story of African American musicians and the way they pioneered musical styles during the early 20th century. The production will run at the Walter K. Gordon Theater from February 6th to February 15th, with just eight days for audiences to witness the representations of some of the most influential figures in music history.

The tribute musical features renditions of “race records,” which were collections of songs specifically marketed to African American audiences from the 1920s through the 1930s. The production balances a deep delve into the social and cultural circumstances of the time with representations of the incredible artistry these musicians possessed.

Hand Me Down the Silver Trumpet was created and is being directed by Dr. Kenneth Elliott, professor and Chair of the Rutgers-Camden Visual, Media, and Performing Arts Department. The cast and orchestra include Rutgers-Camden students, alumni, and local special guests, including Tiara Green, a singer and actress out of Chester, Pennsylvania, performing alongside her own son, Caden, a member of Rutgers-Camden’s theater program.

With the chance to look back around 100 years at the music industry from the past, this production is a perfect way to acknowledge Black History Month and learn about the development of these genres that reflected the artists’ experiences. For more information including ticket purchasing, visit https://vmpa.camden.rutgers.edu/theater-program/production-season/