Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Auditions for the popular off-Broadway production "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf" will be held at the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26 and 27.

Written by Ntozake Shange in 1975, "For Colored Girls" won an Obie Award for the best off-Broadway play, and was also nominated for Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards. It is a popular production of theatrical companies across the country. The play features seven poems that reveal the everyday realities of black women, all presented as different colors of the rainbow while dancing, moving and singing. The play's fusion of movement and language is referred to as a "choreopoem."

Kimberly McLaughlin-Smith, Office of Multicultural Affairs coordinator said she is excited to be producing and directing the play on campus for the second time. Last year, the play received a large turnout from the Wilmington community as well as people coming from Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and Lumberton to attend the show.

"It was an unexpected but much appreciated surprise to have received such a huge embrace from both the campus and external communities," said McLaughlin-Smith, adding that this year she hopes to increase the audience even more by adding more show dates.

McLaughlin-Smith intends to honor the script by maintaining the author's original vision but would like to "highlight more of the intricate and subliminal messages in the play this year." She also hopes to "help the audience get closer to the characters and the production by peeling back more layers from each character."

Auditions will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 in Dobo Hall 202 and Wednesday, April 27 in Dobo Hall 205. To apply for a stage crew position, contact McLaughlin-Smith at 910.962.4274 or smithkm@uncw.edu. All cast and crew positions are voluntary and unpaid. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in August when students return for the fall semester, and the play will run in November.

Separate from cast and crew auditions, the production is looking for males of color to participate in the finale of the play. The post-show entertainment will include dancing and lip-syncing. If interested, contact McLaughlin-Smith for more information.

Media Contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu