A Residency Rooted in Storytelling
Playwright, composer and jazz musician Ashli St. Armant is exploring how stories live on, through memory, music, oral tradition and the people who keep telling them.
During her three-year residency, Ashli St. Armant has researched Black American folklore, traced her Louisiana roots and explored the ways stories are passed down, from family histories and folktales to schoolyard games and shared community traditions. Her work centers on recovering and reimagining African American stories in ways that honor their roots while creating space for new interpretations.
That residency culminates in the world premiere of The Yellowroot: A Juke Joint Cabaret, March 19–20, 2027, at Chandler Center for the Arts. Drawing from figures and stories including Henry “Box” Brown, Annie Christmas, Mami Wata and the New Orleans Axeman, the work brings history, folklore and myth into conversation through music and storytelling.
Explore the research, relationships and creative process that helped bring The Yellowroot to the stage.
Digging Into the Archive
After researching hundreds of stories, Ashli selected 16 to reimagine for the stage, drawing inspiration from Louisiana and landmark collections of African American folklore.
Passed Down Through Play
Ashli led schoolyard games like “Miss Mary Mack” to explore how rhythm, language and memory are passed on without ever being written down
Inspired by Chandler Youth
Ashli joined Anni Beach and the young musicians of Jam Pak, a Chandler neighborhood band built around learning, playing and sharing music together.
Stories We Carry
Ashli asked Chandler community members about the folktales, legends and family stories they grew up hearing, revealing how stories shift across people, places and generations.
Conversation Into Song
Conversations with Dr. Adama Sallu and Emil Davies Venn about Mami Wata traditions helped shape the song “Mami Wata” in The Yellowroot.
Rooted in Place
Research and conversations about Southside Chandler helped inspire “I Think I Will,” connecting local history with the music of The Yellowroot.
From Research to Music
In the Recital Hall, Ashli and Music Director Doug Carter experimented with and refined a song for the show inspired by the Axeman of New Orleans.
Testing the Work on Stage
A work-in-progress performance gave Ashli and her creative team the chance to hear the piece with an audience, make notes and continue refining the show ahead of the premiere.
Digging Into the Archive
After researching hundreds of stories, Ashli selected 16 to reimagine for the stage, drawing inspiration from Louisiana and landmark collections of African American folklore.
Passed Down Through Play
Ashli led schoolyard games like “Miss Mary Mack” to explore how rhythm, language and memory are passed on without ever being written down
Inspired by Chandler Youth
Ashli joined Anni Beach and the young musicians of Jam Pak, a Chandler neighborhood band built around learning, playing and sharing music together.
Stories We Carry
Ashli asked Chandler community members about the folktales, legends and family stories they grew up hearing, revealing how stories shift across people, places and generations.
Conversation Into Song
Conversations with Dr. Adama Sallu and Emil Davies Venn about Mami Wata traditions helped shape the song “Mami Wata” in The Yellowroot.
Rooted in Place
Research and conversations about Southside Chandler helped inspire “I Think I Will,” connecting local history with the music of The Yellowroot.
From Research to Music
In the Recital Hall, Ashli and Music Director Doug Carter experimented with and refined a song for the show inspired by the Axeman of New Orleans.
Testing the Work on Stage
A work-in-progress performance gave Ashli and her creative team the chance to hear the piece with an audience, make notes and continue refining the show ahead of the premiere.
“With The Yellowroot, I reach back and reclaim the music and stories of my people, and give them new life through this performance.” - Ashli
For Ashli, storytelling is meant to be shared. The Yellowroot brings audiences into a juke joint in the middle of the bayou, where music, history, folklore and memory unfold together in a communal experience.
In this video, hear more about the world of The Yellowroot, why the juke joint setting matters and how three years of research helped shape the work.
Support the Project
At the Chandler Center for the Arts, new work is made possible through community support.
By contributing to The Yellowroot: A Juke Joint Cabaret, you’re investing in an original production by Artist in Residence Ashli St. Armant, one that celebrates culture, storytelling, and the power of live performance.
Your gift helps sustain artists, expand access to new work, and enrich the cultural life of our community. Connect with Sandra Bassett today to learn more about how you can support The Yellowroot.
Related Events
Ordinary Folks, Extraordinary Tales: A Storytelling Event
Ordinary Folks, Extraordinary Tales: A Storytelling Event
The Yellowroot: A Juke Joint Cabaret
