true colors theatre company Archives

Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer

True Colors Theatre Company presents "Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer" at Southwest Arts Center June 14 - July 10. Fannie Lou Hamer was the baby of her family, who were sharecroppers with 19 children before her. After working on plantations for most of her adult life, she joined the Civil Rights movement. Three years after attending a rally, she co-founded a new political party to advocate for Black voting rights. Involuntarily sterilized, robbed of her possessions, and beaten in jail, Hamer was not deterred. This play with music has a cast of one, in recognition of the sheer power of Hamer’s will. "Fannie" is directed by Joy Vandervort-Cobb, associate artistic director at PURE Theatre and an associate professor of African American Theatre and Performance at College of...

Free Staged Reading of ‘Lions’ at Southwest Arts Center on Sept. 6

5Sep

By cosfobserverNo Comments

Arts

Free Staged Reading of ‘Lions’ at Southwest Arts Center on Sept. 6

True Colors Theatre Company is inviting the community to a free staged reading of "Lions" at the Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road, on Friday, September 6. "Lions" is written by Jihan Crowther. The play is set during a possibly haunted party where Wallis, the world’s worst hostess, attempts to entertain her guests—one of whom is hellbent on commandeering her home before the night is over. When unexpected secrets are revealed, the party takes a turn no one is prepared for. Soon new friends and strangers are forced to choose sides as the chaos inside begins to reflect the turmoil brewing outside. The reading is directed by Ibi Owolabi, and is part of the theatre company's related reading series which helps to introduce the themes of its main stage productions to audiences. Li...

True Colors’ 17th Season to Showcase Women Playwrights, Stories

27Aug

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Arts, Entertainment, Events

True Colors’ 17th Season to Showcase Women Playwrights, Stories

A study conducted by the Dramatist’s Guild and the Lilly Awards found that only 3.4 percent of plays on American stages are written by women of color. True Colors Theatre Company's new artistic director, Jamil Jude, aims to help change that. The theatre company's 17th season themed "She Griots" will open in September. Two of the plays, Paradise Blue and School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play are written by black women. The third tells the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a music legend who influenced industry giants, and her protégée Marie Knight. First up on September 24 is Paradise Blue written by Dominique Morisseau, and directed by Jude. It will be True Colors’ third installment of Morisseau’s Detroit Project trilogy. True Colors is just one of tw...

East Texas Hot Links Opens July 19 at Southwest Arts Center

12Jul

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Arts, Entertainment

East Texas Hot Links Opens July 19 at Southwest Arts Center

True Colors Theatre Company ends its 2018-2019 season with East Texas Hot Links, written and directed by Eugene Lee. The shows open officially July 19 at the Southwest Arts Center (915 New Hope Road). For a sneak peek, previews will begin on July 16. The play tackles issues of race, greed and corruption. It's described as both a riveting mystery and a compelling character study reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. In 1955, Charlesetta’s Top O’ the Hill Cafe is one of the only public places where Black locals can gather for comfort, conversation, and companionship. One hot summer night begins as an evening of storytelling and fellowship, but quickly becomes an unforgettable night where community must come together to save itself from outside evils as...

True Colors to Present Staged Reading of ‘Bread’

25Jun

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Arts

True Colors to Present Staged Reading of ‘Bread’

On the heels of the announcement of its 2019-2020 season, True Colors Theatre Company is introducing a series of staged readings that parallel the themes in its upcoming productions. On June 28 at the Southwest Arts Center (915 New Hope Road), the theatre company will present a staged reading of "Bread," by Dallas-born actress and playwright Regina Taylor. "Bread" is a compelling family drama of hopes, fears, thwarted dreams, and dark secrets against a turbulent backdrop of racial tension and social upheaval. Characters James and Ruth are a middle-class couple from Oak Cliff, a historic south Dallas neighborhood on the verge of gentrification. They plan a bright future for their teenage son and his soon-to-be-born brother. But when James’ brother Jeb returns home, buried family tensio...

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