Appearing in “for colored girls,” clockwise from left: Tamora Israel, Tara Vargas Wallace, Alicia Morningsong Peters, Ray Bishop, Triniece Clegg, Sophia Lewis and Samantha Walker. (Poster image courtesy of Vana Trudeau)
By Wil Moser
How does one complete the sentence, “My love is too _______ to have thrown back on my face”? Powerful? Bittersweet? Prolific?
Those words help define “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” the groundbreaking choreopoem by Ntozake Shange, which will be presented at the Tilden Arts Center this February by a cast of seven actresses.
The production marks the first time in more than a decade that 4Cs has expanded its spring theatrical season to include two shows. Program Manager Vana Trudeau approved the extension, with “for colored girls” opening the season.
Written by Shange in 1975, “for colored girls” explores the lived experiences of women of color through poetry, music and movement, capturing both moments of profound joy and devastating pain. The characters are identified not by names but by colors — such as Lady in Red or Lady in Yellow — a choice intended to universalize the stories and invite audiences to see themselves within them.
Director Sara-Ann Semedo, an academic coordinator and Equity actress, has a long personal history with the work. She first saw “for colored girls” at age 10 in Boston and later directed the piece while in graduate school. Since then, she has advocated for bringing the production to Tilden.
“For Vana and me, this conversation started back in 2014,” Semedo said. “I remember saying, ‘I don’t know when this college is going to be ready for Black theater — not just Black theater, but work from the Black Arts Movement.’ When she asked me to direct it, I said no at first. I wanted to perform in it. But then I realized a director doesn’t just touch the cast — they touch the masses.”
Shange described the work not as a play but as a “choreopoem,” a term she coined. Semedo explained that choreopoetry blends poetry, dialogue, music and movement without following a traditional narrative arc.
“It’s not about getting from point A to point B,” Semedo said. “It’s about evoking emotion and honoring cultural experience.”
The cast includes several familiar faces from the 4Cs campus, including students Ray Bishop, who portrays the Lady in Green, and Sophia Lewis, who plays the Lady in Yellow.
Asked to describe the show in one word, Bishop chose “powerful,” while Lewis selected “bittersweet.”
“‘for colored girls’ is about loving yourself,” Bishop said. “Every single color that makes up who you are, regardless of the brush the world may try to paint you with.”
Lewis said the emotional weight of the piece is balanced by moments of connection and joy.
“It’s bitter because of how heavy the words are,” she said. “But it’s sweet because of the good moments we share. The dancing and physical connection heal my inner child every rehearsal.”
Semedo summed up the production in a single word: “Prolific.”
“for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” will have six performances over two weekends. Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28.
Tickets cost $5 for students, $10 for faculty, $15 for seniors and military members, and $20 for general admission.
