‘for colored girls’ reviews celebrate ‘riveting’ Broadway revival and ‘resplendent’ Kenita R. Miller
Forty-six years after the original production of Ntozake Shange’s legendary choreopoem “for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf,” a sterling revival has returned to Broadway in the very same house where the original ran for nearly two years. Shange’s classic work consists of poems performed by seven different Black women – identified as different colors of the rainbow – that chronicle their joys, triumphs, and struggles. This mounting features the work of Tony-nominated choreographer Camille A. Brown, who also directs. The revival opened on April 20 at the Booth Theatre.
The ensemble cast stars Amara Granderson, Tendayi Kuumba, Kenita R. Miller, Okwui Okpokwasili, Stacey Sargeant, Alexandria Wailes, and D. Woods, the majority of whom are making their Broadway debuts. The late Shange’s voice also opens the play, in a short address to a young Black girl that invites the audience to imagine with them the...
The ensemble cast stars Amara Granderson, Tendayi Kuumba, Kenita R. Miller, Okwui Okpokwasili, Stacey Sargeant, Alexandria Wailes, and D. Woods, the majority of whom are making their Broadway debuts. The late Shange’s voice also opens the play, in a short address to a young Black girl that invites the audience to imagine with them the...
- 4/26/2022
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Director and choreographer Camille A. Brown and her cast of seven female singer-dancer-actors breathe life and vitality into Ntozake Shange’s still-potent mid-1970s touchstone for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf. Opening tonight at the Booth Theatre on Broadway, Shange’s fantasia of poetry, dance and stories of confession, defiance, sisterhood and, above all, perseverance, holds a power that’s not been weakened either by decades or the loss of a once startling newness.
Shange called her mix of spoken word set to dance and movement a “choreopoem,” a word as lovely and evocative today as it was when for colored girls (as it’s often abbreviated) began Off Broadway performances back in 1974. If the word itself seems tied to its era, the form would take root and work its influence on any number of theatrical works in any number of decades, from The...
Shange called her mix of spoken word set to dance and movement a “choreopoem,” a word as lovely and evocative today as it was when for colored girls (as it’s often abbreviated) began Off Broadway performances back in 1974. If the word itself seems tied to its era, the form would take root and work its influence on any number of theatrical works in any number of decades, from The...
- 4/21/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf, directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown has announced its full cast and creative team, with performances set to begin at the Booth Theatre on Friday, April 1 and opening night on Wednesday, April 20.
Joining the cast are Amara Granderson as Lady in Orange, Tendayi Kuumba as Lady in Brown, Kenita R. Miller as Lady in Red, Okwui Okpokwasili as Lady in Green, Stacey Sargeant as Lady in Blue, Alexandria Wailes as Lady in Purple, and D. Woods as Lady in Yellow.
The revival will feature set design by Myung Hee Cho, costume design by Sarafina Bush, lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, sound design by Justin Ellington, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, and hair design by Cookie Jordan. The show also will feature...
Joining the cast are Amara Granderson as Lady in Orange, Tendayi Kuumba as Lady in Brown, Kenita R. Miller as Lady in Red, Okwui Okpokwasili as Lady in Green, Stacey Sargeant as Lady in Blue, Alexandria Wailes as Lady in Purple, and D. Woods as Lady in Yellow.
The revival will feature set design by Myung Hee Cho, costume design by Sarafina Bush, lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, sound design by Justin Ellington, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, and hair design by Cookie Jordan. The show also will feature...
- 2/28/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
David Byrne’s American Utopia has extended its Broadway run for the final time and now will conclude performances on Sunday, April 3 at the St. James Theatre.
The production had previously been set to close on March 6.
The much-lauded production returned to Broadway at the St. James on Friday, September 17, 2021, following its original 2019 engagement at the Hudson Theatre and the 18-month pandemic shutdown. The show received a Special Tony Award in September 2021 and worked through the December 2021 Covid surge with a series of “unchained”, or unplugged-style, performances.
The production features David Byrne with original band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III. The company standbys are Renée Albulario, Alena Ciera, Chris Eddleton, Evan Frierson, Abe Nouri, and Natalie Tenenbaum.
The production had previously been set to close on March 6.
The much-lauded production returned to Broadway at the St. James on Friday, September 17, 2021, following its original 2019 engagement at the Hudson Theatre and the 18-month pandemic shutdown. The show received a Special Tony Award in September 2021 and worked through the December 2021 Covid surge with a series of “unchained”, or unplugged-style, performances.
The production features David Byrne with original band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III. The company standbys are Renée Albulario, Alena Ciera, Chris Eddleton, Evan Frierson, Abe Nouri, and Natalie Tenenbaum.
- 2/14/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
David Byrne’s American Utopia will be coming to movie theaters for one night only on September 15th. The Spike Lee-directed film captured Byrne’s Broadway show during its original 2019-2020 sold-out run.
The Emmy-nominated HBO film, which screens two days before the show returns to Broadway at St. James Theatre beginning September 17th, will also feature an introduction from Byrne along with a never-before-seen conversation between Byrne and Lee. The film is presented by Iconic Events Releasing, Participant, River Road Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, and HBO Entertainment.
The...
The Emmy-nominated HBO film, which screens two days before the show returns to Broadway at St. James Theatre beginning September 17th, will also feature an introduction from Byrne along with a never-before-seen conversation between Byrne and Lee. The film is presented by Iconic Events Releasing, Participant, River Road Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, and HBO Entertainment.
The...
- 8/12/2021
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’: Spike Lee’s Emmy-Nominated Pic Will Hit Theaters For One Night Only
David Byrne’s American Utopia, the Emmy-nominated special from director Spike Lee, is coming to movie theaters nationwide for a one-night-only event on September 15, Iconic Events Releasing, Participant, River Road Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, and HBO Entertainment announced today.
The theatrical event will feature an introduction by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, as well as a never-before-seen conversation between Byrne and Lee.
American Utopia is a concert film that gives audiences access to Byrne’s Broadway show of the same, which played to sold-out, record-breaking audiences during its original 2019-2020 run. In it, Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning musician David Byrne performs songs from his 2018 album of the same name, as well as songs by Talking Heads, and from his solo career. He’s joined onstage by band members from around the world, including Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield,...
The theatrical event will feature an introduction by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, as well as a never-before-seen conversation between Byrne and Lee.
American Utopia is a concert film that gives audiences access to Byrne’s Broadway show of the same, which played to sold-out, record-breaking audiences during its original 2019-2020 run. In it, Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning musician David Byrne performs songs from his 2018 album of the same name, as well as songs by Talking Heads, and from his solo career. He’s joined onstage by band members from around the world, including Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield,...
- 8/12/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
David Byrne’s American Utopia, the theatrical concert performance that played a limited engagement on Broadway to great acclaim and full houses for five months in 2019 and 2020, and months ago announced a 2021 return, has found its venue: Utopia will begin performances at Jujamcyn’s St. James Theatre on the previously announced Friday, Sept. 17.
Byrne will return to Broadway with his original American Utopia band fully intact: Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III.
“It is with great pleasure that finally, after a year+ like no other, I can announce that our show is coming back to Broadway,” Byrne said. “You who kept the faith, who held on to your tickets, well, you knew this would happen eventually! September 17 – remount previews begin.
“We’re moving to the St. James Theatre – just down 44th Street from the Hudson,...
Byrne will return to Broadway with his original American Utopia band fully intact: Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan and Bobby Wooten III.
“It is with great pleasure that finally, after a year+ like no other, I can announce that our show is coming back to Broadway,” Byrne said. “You who kept the faith, who held on to your tickets, well, you knew this would happen eventually! September 17 – remount previews begin.
“We’re moving to the St. James Theatre – just down 44th Street from the Hudson,...
- 6/17/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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