Photo Flash: Colors of Community Event Uses Theater & Panel as Catalyst for Healing, Change

When Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Kaili Y. Turner, and Kim Rios Lin set out to produce their 3rd Colors of Community event they were fully aware of the event's timing three days after our Nation's Presidential election. The house was packed at HSA Theater, with individuals of all emotions ready to absorb the Colors of Community Mission: "To help bridge the divides between communities through theater and discourse."

Celebrating women, the Colors of Community producers curated the pieces of three female playwrights and invited three female directors and invited a panel of women for community discourse. Along with inspiring entertainment from musical guests Marcus Joyner and Renee Goust, the evening was balanced with important theater, relevant issues, and much needed healing through open discussion.

PLAYS:

Jazelle the Gazelle by Dominique Moriseau, Directed by Portia, featuring Afia Abusham

The Orphan Classifieds by Ninan Tan, Directed by Jill DeArmon, featuring Ben Thompson, Divyne Harris, Jaden DeArmon, and Lianne Becker

Sisters Fight by T.R. Patmore, Directed by Susan Aston, featuring Cristina Garcia Leon, Olivia Hardin, Kaili Y. Turner, Kim Rios Lin, and Whitney Zanardi

PANEL:

- Aber Kawas - Youth Lead Organizer, Arab American Association of New York
- Danielle Gletow: Founder of One Simple Wish
- Debra Ann Byrd- Founder & Producing Director of Harlem Shakespeare Festival; Founder & Producing Artistic Director of Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc.
- Julia Rae Maldonado: Playwright, Teaching Artist at Stella Adler Studios Outreach Program
- T.R. Patmore (Moderator): Writer, Playwright, Feminist

Colors of Community Producers (left to right): Kaili Y. Turner, Kim Rios Lin. (not pictured: Bobby Daniel Rodriguez)

The Orphan Classifieds by Ninan Tan, Directed by Jill DeArmon (left to right): Ben Thompson, Divyne Harris, Lianne Becker, Jaden DeArmon.

Sisters Fight by T.R. Patmore, Directed by Susan Aston (left to right): Olivia Hardin, Whitney Zanardi, Cristina Garcia Leon, Kaili Y. Turner, Kim Rios Lin.

Jazelle the Gazelle by Dominique Morisseau, Directed by PORTIA, featuring Afia Abusham.

Musical Guests Marcus Joyner and Renee Goust.

Colors of Community Panel (left to right): T.R. Patmore, Danielle Gletow, Julia Rae Maldonado, Aber Kawas, Debra Ann Byrd.

Sisters Fight by T.R. Patmore, Directed by Susan Aston (left to right): Whitney Zanardi, Cristina Garcia Leon, Kaili Y. Turner, Susan Aston, Kim Rios Lin, T.R. Patmore. (not pictured: Olivia Hardin)