Bessie Smith
Queen Latifah
Ma Rainey
Mo'Nique
Frank Walker
Joe Knezevich
Langston Hughes
Jeremie Harris
Ma's Main Girl
Jennifer Sears
Bessie's Dancer
Crystal Lee Brown
Detroit Theater Manager
Terence Rosemore
Sharkish Man
L. Warren Young
Doreen Dupree
Tia Hendricks
Fania Van Vechten
Whitney Goin
Rehearsal Director
Neko Parham
Swarm Boy #1
Kaden Washington Lewis
Richard
Mike Epps
Swarm Boy #2
Alkoya Brunson
Night Club Owner
Todd Allen Durkin
Stage Hand
Swift Rice
Host
Jim R. Coleman
Vanity Fair Editor
Jessejames Locorriere
Chorus Girl #1
Onira Tarés
Chorus Girl #2
Jhoni Davis
Roadie #1
Hunter Womack
Roadie #2
Christopher Harvey
Etta Johnson
Marie Burke
Lucille
Tika Sumpter
Benny Goodman
Levi Erik
Marguerite d'Alvarez
Nicole Spiezio
Harry Pace
Bralyn Stokes
Jack Gee Jr.
Sylvester Ambrose James II
Ma's Dancer
Briana Starks
Stagehand
Alan T. Coleman
Stage Crew (uncredited)
Tray Williams
Party Goer
Montice Harmon
Jack Gee
Michael Kenneth Williams
William 'Pa' Rainey
Charles S. Dutton
John Hammond
Bryan Greenberg
Carl Van Vechten
Oliver Platt
Viola
Khandi Alexander
Clarence
Tory Kittles
Executive Producer
Richard D. Zanuck
Director
Dee Rees
Screenplay
Story
Horton Foote
Original Music Composer
Rachel Portman
Co-Executive Producer
Hallie Foote
Shakim Compere
Randi Michel
Lili Fini Zanuck
Editor
Brian A. Kates
Art Direction
Drew Monahan
Set Decoration
Traci Kirshbaum
Shelby Stone
Costume Design
Michael T. Boyd
Casting
Billy Hopkins
Producer
Ron Schmidt
Production Design
Clark Hunter
Bettina Gilois
Director of Photography
Jeffrey Jur
Christopher Cleveland