Friday, February 20, 2009
Koga Moffor, Overland Park senior, Cali Gilman, Olathe alumna, and Brittany Barney, Paola sophomore, rehearse Tuesday for the Multicultural Theatre Initiative's production of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf." The play runs Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon at the Lawrence Arts Center.
A cast of seven women, wearing dresses in seven colors of the rainbow, will take the stage this weekend to delve into the many shades of complicated issues.
This weekend the Multicultural Theatre Initiative will present its second production, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf,” a play written by Ntozake Shange. DeAndrea Herron, executive director of the MTI, said the play illuminated the identity of women in America as the characters revealed themselves — their lives, triumphs, hardships and ultimately their discovery of inner strength and love.
She described the play as stunning and explosive; a play that women from all walks of life can connect to and that men can respect and admire.
Koga Moffor, Overland Park senior, is playing the Lady in Blue. She said she thought the situations portrayed would resonate with audience members, whether they knew someone who had gone through something similar or experienced it firsthand.
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What: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange
When: Feb. 20 & 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
Where: Lawrence Arts Center
Cost: $5 suggested donations
Doors open 30 minutes before the show begins.
“It is a lot about coming into your own; whatever you have gone through as a woman, it’s about finding yourself,” Moffor said.
The play is a compilation of monologues, poetry and music. The characters describe their relationships with men, friends, their community and themselves. It is set in a time when segregation and prejudice were prominent. The play addresses issues such as abortion, bad relationships, virginity and rape.
“You have to give your whole self to this and jump in feet first, not being afraid to fall,” Herron said.
Some actresses are veterans, while this will be Moffor’s first acting experience.
“We have a wide array of experience in acting going on in this play. I think that makes it very real,” Moffor said. “Not only is the material interesting, funny, heartbreaking, empowering, and striking, but also you will see an amazingly diverse cast and seasoned actresses and other people who are completely new to it. It should be great.”
Herron said that she had wanted to either perform the play or direct it and that this experience was a dream come true.
“This has been an amazing experience for all of us. The cast is simply beautiful and I sincerely mean that,” Herron said. “They bring so many diverse qualities to this show. It has been a journey for all of us.”
Herron said she saw herself and women in her life portrayed through stories in the play. Not all women voice the events in their lives, but the play gives a voice to some topics that have been silent, Herron said.
“Being surrounded by women in my life who have been pushed to the limit but have stood strong and come out on top is why I do this show,” Herron said. “If they can make it, we all can.”
Felicia Fairley, 2008 graduate, is playing the Lady in Red. Fairley said the play had strong language and adult content, and a profound message for those mature enough to handle it.
“Although I have graduated from the University, I still get the satisfaction of being a part of a wonderful production,” Fairley said. “This is a powerful piece that I feel all students should see.”
— —Edited by Sonya English
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