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Home » Blogs » Sarah Warn's blog » Jasmine Guy directs Nicole Ari Parker and Robin Givens in "For Colored Girls"

Jasmine Guy directs Nicole Ari Parker and Robin Givens in "For Colored Girls"

by
Sarah Warn

Jasmine Guy (Dead Like Me, A Different World) is set to direct the upcoming stage production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf from July 12 to August 9 at The Soutwest Arts Center in Atlanta, GA.

Jasmine Guy, right, is the director of the True Colors production

Here's how True Colors Theatre Company describes the production, which will preview on July 12 and 14:

Directed by Broadway star and television actress, Jasmine Guy, Ntozake Shange's legendary choreopoem about the African-American female journey through America is portrayed through the poetry, dancing and narrative of a slate of women who become the colorful ladies of the rainbow. Both a joyous celebration of a unique culture and a wrenchingly real portrait of the struggle of an oppressed minority, For Colored Girls… tells the timeless story through 20 beautiful vignettes that inspire laughter and tears for the passion and pain of the black woman's experience.

Nicole Ari Parker (Imagine That, Brown Sugar, Remember the Titans, Soul Food) and Robin Givens (House of Payne, Boomerang) will star.

Nicole Ari Parker, left and Robin Givens

How I wish I lived in the South right now! This is the perfect blend of a terrific, thought-provoking play, and TV/film actresses I'm a fan of (I grew up watching A Different World, and will admit to owning The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love, Remember the Titans, Brown Sugar, and all five seasons of Soul Food on DVD).

Ntozake Shange's famous play was first performed in a women's bar outside of Berkeley, CA, made its way to New York, and debuted on Broadway in 1976, earning a Best Play Tony nomination and winning the Best Featured Actress in a Play Tony for Trazana Beverley. It was published as a novel in 1977, and made into a TV movie in 1982 starring Shange, Beverly, Laurie Carlos, Alfre Woodard and Lynn Whitfield.

It was supposed to be revived on Broadway last summer with India.Arie starring and Whoopi Goldberg producing, but the funding apparently fell through.

Here's what Guy, who has starred in Broadway productions of The Wiz, Chicago, and Grease, and starred earlier this spring in the True Colors's production of Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky, says about For Colored Girls:

I love the words, messages and sisterhood. I love the movement and singing throughout the piece. Most importantly, the message shows the way African-Americans communicate as a culture. Overall, it shows different colors of pain, struggle and celebration.

If you live near Atlanta, get your tickets now for the show and the second post-show talkback with Jasmine and the cast on Sunday, July 19 (the first one sold out).

If you've seen a production of this play, or read the book, leave your thoughts about it in the comments!

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    • Submitted by
    Sarah Warn
    on June 26, 2009 - 5:54pm.
    TAGS :: 
    ladytia's picture

    I may have to make the

    Submitted by
    ladytia (12 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 6:32pm.

    I may have to make the three hour trip to Atlanta to see this. It sounds very interesting. I have a special place in my heart for Jasmine Guy.

    Not to be an ass or anything, but the The Whiz, should be The Wiz.

    monica_ca's picture

    Parker looks REALLY familiar

    Submitted by
    monica_ca (643 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 6:33pm.

    What else has she been in?  I've never seen Imagine That and only part of Soul Food.  I feel like I've seen her on a TV series at some point.

    Anyway, it sounds REALLY interesting...a shame that I don't live closer to Atlanta.

    My Name Is Tara's picture

    The movie..

    Submitted by
    My Name Is Tara (1272 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 10:16pm.

    The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love.

    The movie Brown Sugar.

    strict machine's picture

    omg

    Submitted by
    strict machine (4301 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 6:35pm.

    i love and cherish Jasmine Guy.  i wish i could see this.

    i have never so wanted to be in atlanta 

     

    squuuuueeeee Jasmine Guy

     

    Sensationalsarah's picture

    Love Robin

    Submitted by
    Sensationalsarah (13 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 6:36pm.
    Oh I Love Robin Givens, I'll forgive her for dating Dennis Rodman....or was that Carmen Electra? Anyways I fell inlove her Robin pn the Fresh prince of Bel-Air, so I'll watch this for her.
    My Name Is Tara's picture

    Mike Tyson.

    Submitted by
    My Name Is Tara (1272 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 10:17pm.
    Robin Givens was married to Mike Tyson.
    Lunakiss's picture

    For Colored Girls JG's Revival Of Ntozake Shange's Play

    Submitted by
    Lunakiss (2043 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 7:11pm.

    I am hatin the Atlanta Residents now. Seriously.  In high school I performed one of the characters from Ntozake Shange's play For Colored Girls Who Consdiered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf in my  12th grade creative writing class.  Shange's play is one of my all time favorite plays ever.

    I'm glad Robin Givens is back acting. Hey ,monica_ca., Givens married Mike Tyson. I forgive her for marrying him too. I know what you mean. 

    Jasmine Guy  is a royal talent. I can't get enough talking about Nicole Ari. I mean dayum.

    I'm so hatin' so hatin. (shaking head)

     

    dadivinetree's picture

    So exited..

    Submitted by
    dadivinetree (1 post)
    on June 26, 2009 - 7:20pm.

    I just got my tickets!!! Yay!!!!

    ~Simply Tree~

    My Name Is Tara's picture

    You are cute. :)

    Submitted by
    My Name Is Tara (1272 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 10:19pm.
    You are cute. :)
    Nona J.'s picture

    I Wish

    Submitted by
    Nona J. (339 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 7:40pm.

    it was in Chicago. I have seen two different productions of For Colored Girls, and I loved them both. It is one of my favorite plays. I wish I could see it in Atlanta. Regardless, I know that these women will do a wonderful job.

    BTW 

    Also, I read that Liongates picked up the play. Nzingha Stewart is directing her adaptation of the play.  Angela Bassett, Alicia Keys, and Sanaa Lathan are suppose to star in it. Any word on that?

    " True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united" ~ Wilhelm von Humbolt

    My Name Is Tara's picture

    Actresses.

    Submitted by
    My Name Is Tara (1272 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 10:22pm.
    Angela Bassett and Sanaa Lathan, if so omgoodness, YES I would make sure I will try my best to see this adaptation. They are two of my favorite actresses.
    pecola's picture

    Wow

    Submitted by
    pecola (1489 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 10:25pm.

    Sanaa Lathan and Angela Bassett?! Heart be still. 

    ---

    Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong. - Theodore Roosevelt

    Diana's picture

    Oh God I had to read that

    Submitted by
    Diana (115 posts)
    on June 26, 2009 - 10:41pm.
    Oh God I had to read that choreopoem for my Drama class last semester and Man I thought it was so cryptic... Couldn't understand a thing!! But nonetheless I'm sure it is great haha
    zephyr's picture

    For Colored Girls...

    Submitted by
    zephyr (744 posts)
    on June 27, 2009 - 4:36pm.

    Haven't read the poem in ages.  If it does really well in Atlanta, it might go around the country.

    Loved Jasmine Guy when she was in A Different World.  She acted the hell out of that role.  Nicole Ari Parker, now Nicole Kodjoe was a dream in SoulFood.

    scarlett's picture

    Awesome!

    Submitted by
    scarlett (84 posts)
    on June 29, 2009 - 1:59pm.
    Wish it wasn't so far from me. I love that play! If you can't see a production of it, know that it's meant to be read out loud!
    Brenda647's picture

    Life Affirming....

    Submitted by
    Brenda647 (105 posts)
    on June 29, 2009 - 5:43pm.

    I'm so glad this is being done with such a stellar cast and director. It needs to be seen and experienced.   

    I read the poems, a year or so before it came to LA and was amazed by them. When it came out to LA in the early 80s,  I had just gone through a divorce that left me emotionally wrecked.  I was pretty much paralyzed. I knew "For Colored Glrls..." was something I should see.  I was so right.  I went by myself and was surrounded by an audience that was so connected to what was going on onstage that I totally got  caught up in it.  Long before it was over, I was on my feet with the rest of the audience, shouting and crying.  I walked out knowing that I could do whatever I put my mind to. 

    A little story:  In front of me was a group of four people.  I think it was a mother, daughter, son and daugher's boyfriend.  I noticed, as the play went on, while the women with them were shouting "Amen, sister" and "Right on", the guys kept sinking lower and lower in their seats,  May have had something to do with the portrait being painted of some men in the black community.  I thought it was really funny.

    I'll end this with my favorite quote from the play: 

    “I found God in myself/ and I loved her/ I loved her fiercely.”  (Ntozake Shange)

      

    Peace, Joy and Love

    aksala's picture

    I__ can't wait... can't wait!

    Submitted by
    aksala (262 posts)
    on July 1, 2009 - 3:06pm.


    There was a production at my school when I was in undergrad & I missed it because of some Student Government Association gala crap.  I will NOT miss out this time.  I'll be there on the 19th.  Making eyes at Nicole Ari Parker.   ;-)   

    "Be who you are and say what you feel,
    because those who mind don't matter
    and those who matter don't mind.    " ~Dr. Seuss


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