Feature: BROADWAY IN THE HOOD PRESENTS I GOT THE LAST LAUGH THROUGH MAY 31

Broadway In The HOOD brings a profound theatrical experience with its latest production, I Got the Last Laugh, written by James E. Carter and based on the life of legendary comic Jackie "Moms" Mabley. The play showcases Mabley’s career and cultural significance, with performances running until May 31 at The Legacy Theatre of Excellence.

I Got The Last Laugh takes place against the backdrop of The Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, and follows journalist Charles Earthstein (Riley Stannard) from The Chicago News and M&M Publications as he interviews Mabley (China Hudson). Through a series of conversations and personal stories about Mabley’s life, audience members will learn about her journey, from her youth in Maxton, North Carolina, to her status as one of the greatest comedic performers of all time.

Dramatic storytelling is combined with flashbacks to Mabley’s signature performances, capturing both her wit and the resilience of a woman who overcame many obstacles to become known as “The Funniest Woman in the World.” The story spans the years 1884 to 1975, focusing on Mabley’s comic career and the barriers she broke through as a Black woman in show business who faced racism, sexism, and many other forms of prejudice.

“She [Mabley] was the pioneer for female comics, and in her time, we need to remember who not only opened the door but who actually walked through it,” explained Hudson. Performing Mabley was challenging. “I had to not only bring MOMS to life, but I had to step into the Jim Crow era where Black Americans were undervalued, disrespected, and murdered. Then, stepping out of rehearsal and looking around at the world today, realizing that characters may have changed, but the plot is the same in 2026.”

The show's writing prompts Mabley to recall aspects of her life that bring her personal life to the forefront in ways she probably would not have shared otherwise. Her memories in the play are staged so that the audience can be there with her as she reminisces.

“As a writer, I started writing about her in 2013. I worked at Good Morning America as a stagehand, and my co-worker made me laugh almost every day with her energy and how she would always talk about certain people. I thought about Jackie ‘Moms’ Mabley, the first Black female comedian back in the days, so I started writing her. At the same time, Whoopi Goldberg was pitching for her HBO documentary about Moms. We were invited to The Apollo Theater for the documentary preview, and I had just completed a script. I was going through some issues with people, and I decided to call it, ‘I Got The Last Laugh.’ Her life and time inspire this, and it combines fictional aspects and nonfiction, “explained Carter.

Plans include producing the play as a full production, a tour, a pre-Broadway (off-Broadway) run, and a possible Broadway run.

A Source of Joy Theatricals’ Broadway in the HOOD (Helping Others Open Doors) is a national 501 (c) (3) theatre program based in Las Vegas. Its mission is to positively impact communities across the U.S., focusing on youth ages 8-20, by providing free, accessible theatre training that creates pathways to success in the arts. Supported by the community, celebrities, government officials, and organizations such as the NAACP and the American Theatre Wing, Broadway in the HOOD remains dedicated to "Helping Others Open Doors" and creating life-changing opportunities through arts education and outreach.

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