By Donna Herman
“I go so you know”
The iconic Ntozake Shange work “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” is being revived at The Public Theater where it had its Off-Broadway debut over 40 years ago. This is good news for those of you who didn’t see it then because this is the first time it’s been back in NYC since it moved from The Public to The Booth Theater where it was only the 2nd play by a black woman to reach Broadway. Shange, one of the founders of the Nuyorican Poets Café, coined the term “choreopoem” for this piece which is a vibrant mix of poetry, music and dance. Performed by seven women it’s both an exploration and a celebration of what being black and female in this country means. Read my full review here.
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” By Ntozake Shange, Directed by Leah C. Gardiner, Choreography by Camille A. Brown
WITH: Sasha Allen (Lady in Blue); Celia Chevalier (Lady in Brown); Danaya Esperanza (Lady in Orange); Jayme Lawson (Lady in Red); Adrienne C. Moore (Lady in Yellow); Okwui Okpokwasili (Lady in Green); Alexandria Wailes (Lady in Purple).
MUSICIANS: Deah Love Harriott (Music Director and Keyboards); Tiffany Lloyd (Electric Bass); Rosa Avila (Drums and Percussion Synthesizer).
Scenic Design by Myung Hee Cho; Costume Design by Toni-Leslie James; Lighting Design by Jiyoun Chang; Sound Design by Megumi Katayama; Original Music by Martha Redbone; Music Coordinator, Kristy Norter; Director of ASL, Onudeah Nicolarakis; Casting by Heidi Griffiths & Kate Murray; Dramaturg, Jeanie O’Hare; Production Stage Manager, Alyssa K. Howard; Stage Manager, Katie Kennedy. Presented by The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director. Performances extended through December 1st, 2019 at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC. For Tickets visit https://publictheater.org/productions/season/1920/for-colored-girls/ or the Taub Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street daily from 2pm until show time or an hour before matinee performances. Or call 212.967.7555 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Mon. – Sat., 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Sun.
