Kelly, Douglas, Lewis, Weldon Cast In CROWNS At Ebony Rep 5/5-6/14

The Ebony Repertory Theatre is proud to announce casting for the Los Angeles premiere of CROWNS, adapted by ReGina Taylor from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Debuting as a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse, the show will star Emmy® nominee Paula Kelly, Suzzanne Douglas, Dawnn Lewis, Ann Weldon, Sharon Catherine Blanks, Angela Wildflower Polk and Clinton Derricks-Carroll, with direction by Ebony Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Israel Hicks.

CROWNS will run for six weeks at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (NHPAC) with previews beginning on May 5, and opening May 8, 2009 through June 14, 2009. The Pasadena Playhouse engagement will run from July 10 through August 23, 2009, with the opening date on July 12, 2009.

The show features choreography by Keith Young, scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr., costume design by Dana Woods, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu, sound design by Cricket S. Myers. The stage manager is Gwendolyn M. Gilliam.

The most produced musical in America in 2006, CROWNS explores the lives of the "hat queens," six women in the South whose stories of love, loss, identity and sisterhood are woven into the hats that crown their heads and the songs that speak their truth. Winner of four Helen Hayes awards, CROWNS captures the thrill of self-expression with a series of intimate musical portraits.

Ebony Repertory Theatre is the resident company and operator of the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, which is located at 4718 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016. Single and group tickets are available now through the theatre box office at 323.964.9766 or online at www.ebonyrep.org.

Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena,CA 91101. Subscription tickets are available by calling 626-356-PLAY, or by visiting the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, open from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. daily excluding holidays and online at www.pasadenaplayhouse.org. Group sales are available by calling 1- 800-378-7021. Single Tickets go on sale May 25, 2009.