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In Ntozake Shange's powerful mid-'70s "choreo-poem," a group of African-Americans dramatizes the struggles and journey toward self respect experienced by black women in America.
The best moments in this production, which features the performers Amara Granderson, Tendayi Kuumba, Kenita R. Miller, Okwui Okpokwasili, Stacey Sargeant, Alexandria Wailes and D Woods, are those when the words face forward, the speaker tells truths, and the lyrical beauty of the piece is allowed to soar, without apology. Pain and all. That said, there are many rich and vibrant moments. It's great to see this spectacular American piece of writing now reaching a new generation of Broadway theatergoers. Shange, who could and perhaps should have been poet laureate, deserves every last piece of applause.
This version of for colored girls truly does feel like a choreopoem, Shange's term for her amalgamation of words, motion and music. (The percussive original score is by Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby). The seven women on stage are barefoot, and their movement-which draws on African-American traditions including juba, stepping and social dance-feels organic, natural and triumphant. 'Sechita,' performed and signed by Lady in Purple (the amazing Alexandria Wailes) and spoken by Lady in Orange (Amara Granderson), conjures a seductive Creole carnival worker dancing for dust-covered rednecks; we can almost see this mythical woman 'catchin stars tween her toes.'
| 1976 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
| 1976 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
| 1976 | Broadway |
Broadway Transfer Broadway |
| 1979 | West End |
London Production West End |
| 1980 | Regional (US) |
Regional Revival Regional (US) |
| 2000 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
| 2000 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
| 2019 | Off-Broadway |
Public Theater Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
| 2022 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
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