for colored girls...
“We’re making it our own,” says Kyla Martin ‘15, producer and actress, when describing how Macalester’s production of for colored girls would be different from previous adaptations of Ntozake Shange’s stage play. The work is described to be “passionate and fearless, Shange’s words reveal what it is to be of color and female in the twentieth century.” Kyla discussed how their performance will be different and still resonate with individuals in the contemporary moment: “We’re speaking poems that we think we can speak to…. Times have changed since this production has been created and lots of things have changed socially… That is also interesting but saddening, because a lot of these stories are still relevant to the issues we are combating today.” Many themes from discussing violence, to loss, pain, reclamation of identities & experiences, and celebration are delved into.
In my nearly four years at Macalester, I have never seen any production with an all Black cast and director. Becky Githinji ‘18, Dubie Toa-Kwapong ‘16, Gabriella “Gabs” Gillespie ‘17, Kyla Martin ‘15, Marie Johnson ‘17, Maritza Steele ‘17, Megan Britt ‘15, and Niara Williams ’18 round out the cast of eight Black women who volunteered their time and truths to make this production a reality. Kyla states, “We all have diverse experiences and different cultural and religious backgrounds but we are still able to relate to and speak truth to the pieces.” Harry Waters Jr., Professor and Chair of Theatre and Dance, also volunteered his time and expertise to direct.
By elisa lee ‘15
Lealtad-Suzuki Center’s Program Assistant
Lealtad-Suzuki Center’s Program Assistant
About the Lealtad-Suzuki Center (LSC)
Established in August 2002, the LSC is the programmatic arm of the Department of Multicultural Life (DML). The LSC provides a range of services, including intentional multicultural education and campus programming; ongoing training and development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students; and personal consultations to discuss issues of identity exploration and cross-cultural communication.
LEARN MORE about the Department of Multicultural Life!
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