Trustus Theatre Brings Revival of CROWNS to Main Stage, 2/12-3/6

After two wildly successful runs of ReGina Taylor's gospel-driven musical Crowns in 2005 and 2007, Trustus Theatre is celebrating their 25th Anniversary by reviving this hit production in 2010. Crowns opens Friday, February 12 at 8:00pm on the Trustus Main Stage.

When Trustus Artistic Director Jim Thigpen was creating the 25th Anniversary Season, he knew that ReGina Taylor's Crowns would have to return to the Main Stage. "Ever since we produced Crowns in 2005, we consistently have patrons asking us when we're going to do it again," said Thigpen. "Even though we brought it back in the 2006/2007 season, we still have requests for us to do it again. So it only seemed natural to reward our patrons by giving them what they want!" Once Crowns was locked into the season, Jocelyn Sanders, director of the past two successful productions, came on board to once again stage this unique cultural icon.

As the title reveals, Crowns is fundamentally a show about hats. It is based on a book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, a collection of short interviews and photographs of black women in their Sunday-go-to-meeting headgear.

The stage adaptation of Crowns follows the story of Yolanda; a youth from New York City who is sent to her grandmother's house in South Carolina after her brother is shot in Brooklyn. There is the inevitable clash of civilizations, when Yolanda's hip-hop attitude doesn't harmonize with the hip-swaying church crowd her grandmother introduces her to.

The real action of the show is revealed through a series of monologues from Yolanda's grandmother and her friends on everything you always wanted to know about the tradition of Southern African-American church hats but were afraid to ask: hat etiquette, the way to hug someone with a hat, proper hat dimensions, hat sex appeal. The stories become more personal as the women associate their hats with particular, often painful, memories and the ugly history of the South intervenes.

ReGina Taylor utilizes many genres to bring this cultural expose to life -- there are speeches, songs, dances, dramatic action -- but the most interesting idea is the organization of the show around moments in the black Protestant church service: processionals, morning services, baptisms, and funerals. Most of the score is old-time gospel, with hymns like 'Wade in the Water' and 'We're Marching to Zion' filling the theatre.

An ensemble-driven piece, Crowns calls for an unbelievably talented group of singers/ storytellers. Director Jocelyn Sanders has yet again, constructed an effervescent cast to bring this story to life on the Trustus Stage. Playing the hip-hop driven Yolanda is Latwanna Afflick; opposite Barbara Miller as her church-going grandmother, Mother Shaw. Rounding out the ensemble are Marilyn Matheus (The Glass Menagerie), Celeste Moore (Crowns, Dream Girls), Sandra Woodham (Crowns), Aliya Saulter (Caroline or Change), and Samuel McWhite.

Director Jocelyn Sanders (Caroline or Change) is very excited to be staging this beautiful piece once more at Trustus. "We've got a lot of energizing things happening with this revival," said Sanders. "Roland Haynes is the new musical director for our production, and he's breathing new life into these spirituals. Not to mention we have a great cast with four new members, and three returning members. All of these things are coming together to create a vibrant and fresh production." Undoubtedly, fans of the past two productions and new audience members alike will be enthralled with this moving and celebratory piece.

The 2010 revival of ReGina Taylor's Crowns opens at 8:00pm on Friday, February 12. The show runs through March 6, 2010. Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady St. The main stage entrance is located on the Publix side of the building.

For more information call the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.org for all show information and season info.

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