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.
Yes, but Shange's 90-minute collection of poems performed by seven women, each in a designated color (Shange undoubtedly means the pun) returns the adjective to its high-wattage definition. Director-choreographer Camille A. Brown's production stuns the daylights out of you.
This first Broadway revival, at the same Booth Theatre in which it premiered half a century ago, is nominally a transfer from the Public Theatre's excellent 2019 production. In losing Leah C. Gardiner as its director and having choreographer Camille A. Brown step up for double duty, however, it also loses the simple conversational spark that made their collaboration such an electrifying, sanctified experience.
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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