for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

50 years after its 1976 Broadway premiere, Ntozake Shange's landmark choreopoem gives voice to the interior lives of women of color with a force and beauty unmatched in our national theater. Mile Square Theatre is thrilled to collaborate with Daryl Stewart Productions to bring this powerful production to our stage. NTOZAKE SHANGE was a trailblazing African American playwright, poet, and novelist, who held immense historical and cultural significance in the realms of literature, feminism, and social activism. Through her groundbreaking work, she challenged conventional artistic norms and amplified the voices of Black women in America. Shange revolutionized theater with her seminal work, "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." Opening on Broadway in September 1976, the "choreopoem," as Shange identified it, became the longest-running Broadway play authored by an African American playwright and the choreopoem, as an art form, found a home in American theater. This powerful work interwove poetry, music, dance, and drama, offering an unapologetic portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of Black women. Shange’s legacy continues to inspire and empower artists, activists, and readers. Her unflinching exploration of the African American experience, coupled with her commitment to intersectional feminism and cultural representation, has left an indelible mark on literature and society. @ntozakeshangeofficial DATES: November 6-15 SPECIAL NIGHTS 11/6-Opening Night: complimentary post-performance toast 11/7-Talkback with the cast, director, and creative team 11/13-Divine Nine Night: D9 Greeks, wear your letters! CAST & CREATIVE TEAM: (Lady in Brown) A Silk City Native, ZARIA MONAE has been acting since she was 12 years old & owes everything to her loving family. She is thrilled to be performing in a dream show. @_zaria.monae (Lady in Red) With a career spanning over 33 years, Dr. LYNN IRBY HILL is a visionary educator and artist who believes that the arts are not just a form of expression, but a powerful catalyst for social change. She has dedicated her life's work to ensuring that every student sees their own worth, value, and beauty reflected in their education. Lynn is currently the Principal of South Orange Middle School, where the annual Black History Month program, "My Black is Beautiful," is more than a performance, but a platform designed to empower Black and Brown students and celebrate their excellence. (Lady in Blue) POSITIVE transforms her life experiences into performance art, poetry, and wisdom as she redefines what it means to grow. She speaks truth to power with the hope that it will inspire individuals to rise within their own. Her self-published book "Positive's Reflections" can be found online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble. @_itspositive (Lady in Green) CAMILLE UPSHAW is a Detroit native and East Coast-based multi-hyphenate creative dedicated to healing hearts and minds through storytelling and holistic practice. Most recently, Camille was selected for the 2026 Theatre Write Now Playwriting Cohort and will be featured in the 2026 North to Shore Festival. She made her Broadway debut in Douglas Lyons' "Chicken & Biscuits" and has appeared on networks including HBO, CBS, Oxygen, and more. @cmillieee (Lady in Yellow) BRISSAE VALDES is a NJ/NY based actor proud of her Afro-Caribbean roots and a graduate of Montclair State University's BFA Acting Program (2019). She is passionate about bringing truth to storytelling through theatre, film, and voice-over work. @sheavaldes (Lady in Orange) MADISON STAR BRIM is a rising hip hop artist blending fashion, music, and culture through innovative storytelling and design. A graduate of Howard University and founder of Madison Star Couture, she is passionate about creating spaces that celebrate individuality, creativity, and artistic expression. @_madisonstar (Lady in Purple) CIMA, a Newark native and powerhouse creative, whose first love is acting, has forged a career that spans acclaimed work in theater, television, and film. A true multi-hyphenate, CiMa has earned awards for acting, writing, producing and directing, while also lending her voice to professional book narration and voiceover projects. Driven by a lifelong passion that began in early childhood, CiMa views art as a vessel for change. @cimaglow (Director) DARYL L. STEWART is a nationally recognized theatre maker, curator, and producer. A 2026 US Artist Fellow Nominee and Rockwood Leadership Institute Fellow, his two-decade artistic practice spans stage, screen, directing, producing, performance, and new works. Stewart is an accomplished actor, director, curator, and performance-maker whose body of work includes more than 100 productions. His collaborations with Disney, MASS MoCA, and NJPAC reflect a career dedicated to artistic innovation and audience engagement. As Inaugural Director of Programs at Newark Arts, he directs the Newark Arts Festival, and serves as CEO of Daryl Stewart Productions. Stewart is known for developing dynamic, interdisciplinary work that reframes contemporary performance through a bold and disruptive artistic vision. @thedarylstewart (Co-Director/Co-Choreographer) JUSTIN DOMINIC is a Newark, NJ native and a distinguished dancer, arts leader, educator, and filmmaker. A graduate of Newark Arts High School, he trained at the Ailey School, ABT, and Joffrey Ballet. As a performer, Justin's illustrious career spans the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and acclaimed companies like the Mark Morris Dance Group, Keigwin + Co, and Carolyn Dorfman Dance, performing masterworks by Balanchine, Cunningham, and Limón. Globally recognized as a master teacher and lecturer, Justin fosters exploration and integrity through genres ranging from ballet and contemporary pedagogy to hip-hop and ballroom. His award-winning thesis film, “unapologetic me: BLACK | GAY | MAN,” has screened at BAM, the American Dance Festival, and international festivals. @jaedominic (Movement Director) NIKKIA TYRIE NEAL holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Dance from Howard University, where she studied under the direction of Sherrill Berryman-Johnson. Nikkia has dedicated over 23 years to arts education within Newark Public Schools. Her choreography and performance credits include "Hear Her Roar," "Simply Simone," and "The Color Purple" in collaboration with Daryl Stewart Productions. In addition to her dance career, Nikkia has demonstrated her theatrical performance talents portraying Mable in “Crowns” and Conchita Malita in “The Making of A Perfect Mate.” She remains deeply committed to cultivating artistic excellence, cultural expression, and transformative arts education experiences for students and the community. @beautifulsdance TICKETS: www.milesquaretheatre.org