Crowns, written by Regina Taylor is a play with music and dance, adapted from a book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Crowns weaves together a variety of stories from different characters, time periods and perspectives that, when integrated with music and dance, create a tapestry of voices that transcend time and place.
The essential story of Crowns is that of Yolonda, a young African-American girl trying to figure out her identity, her place in the world, and her place in her own culture. She recognizes the unique ways her ancestry manifests in herself as she declares, “The more I study Africa, the more I see that African Americans do very African things without even knowing it. Adorning the head is one of those things…whether it’s the intricate braids or the distinct hairstyles or the beautiful hats we wear on Sundays. We just know inside that we’re queens. And these are the crowns we wear.”
Spectrum Theatre Company’s production of CROWNS, by Regina Taylor, is co-produced by Barry J.W. “The Shepherd” Franklin. The show is under the artistic helm of award winning director, Dr. Marcus McQuirter, and will feature some of Spectrum’s finest musical theater performers, including Janis Stinson, Jacqui Cross, Judy Arnold, Feliz Dia McDonald, Marc Pouhé, and newcomer Rebekka P. Bryant as Yolonda. Joining this powerhouse of musical theater giants is singer/writer Dorothy Mays Clark. The show is under the musical direction of Mattie Robinson.