Ntozake Shange's play "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" tells the stories of seven unnamed women through poetry and dance. It explores their experiences with issues like racism, sexism, relationships, and abortion. The play is being put on by students at the University of Rochester, directed by Makia Green. The diverse, all-female cast hopes the production will bring awareness to the struggles women of color face and share a message of self-love.

1. Let her be born and handled warmly... orange butterflies and aqaua sequins... Tou
ssaintl’ouverturebecamemysecretlovebytheageofeight....ItwasgraduationniteandIwastheonlyvirgin
inthecrowd.....withspiritsofolddeadafricanfromouttatheground...charmin,c
harmin...andallamyniggatempercameouttacontrol..catchinstarstweenhertoes...dewcityisgettin
for colored who considered suicide / when
the rainbow is enuf
Written by Ntozake Shange
Drama House
Friday April 13th 2012, 7pm
Saturday April 14th 2012, 3pm

2. Act One
Dark Phrases
Graduation Night
Now I Love Somebody More Than
No Assistance
I’m a Poet Who
Latent Rapists’
Abortion Cycle #1
Sechita
Intermission
Musical Performances by
Danielle Joyner and Alexandra Poindexter
Act Two
One
I Used To Live in the World
Pyramid
No More Love Poems #1
No More Love Poems #2
No More Love Poems #3
No More Love Poems #4
Somebody Almost Walked Off Wid Alla My Stuff
Sorry
A Night with Beau Willie Brown
A Laying on of Hands

3. Lady in Brown Justine Robinson
Lady in Blue Christine Wright
Lady in Yellow Amber Baldie
Lady in Red Melanie Brown
Lady in Orange Zeleyka Fowler
Lady in Purple Ellie Law
Lady in Green Makia Green
Production Team
Cast List
Director Makia Green
Assistant Director LaKiesha Holyfield
Business Manager Erica Williams
Business Writer Kathy Edouard
Co-Choreographer Asia Ingram
Co-Choreographer Kim Campbell

4. Life of Ntozake Shange
Ntozake Shange was born Paulette Williams, in Trenton, New Jersey, in
1948. After her relocating to St. Louis as a child, Shange found herself in
the midst of integrated education. A gifted, bookish child during the tu-
multuous days of Brown v. Board of Education, Shange was bused to a for-
merly all-white school in St. Louis, where she was harassed and attacked by
the other students.
In high school, Shange began to write. She enrolled at Barnard in 1966. At
eighteen, she married an older law student, but the marriage unravelled
while she was still an undergraduate. Shange unravelled with it. She at-
tempted suicide several times. Shange threw herself into trying to under-
stand how her sometimes painful and lonely past as a black girl had turned
her into an alienated colored woman.
In 1970, Shange enrolled at the University of Southern California. There
she met artists, writers and performers, whose support helped usher her
closer to self-expression. Shange was recording stories and dreams and ob-
servations that she would use in future work. After completing her master’s
in 1973, the twenty-four-year-old Shange moved to the Bay Area, where
she taught humanities and women’s studies at several colleges.
In the summer of 1974 Shange began writing a series of poems about seven
nameless women, coping with the various trials that she saw black women
dealing with. By the winter of 1974, “for colored girls who have considered
suicide /when the rainbow is enuf” had taken off.
Hilton Als, Life and Letters, “Color Vision,” The New Yorker, November 8, 2010, p. 42

5. MEET THE CAST
“My name is Christine Wright. I am a
freshman at the University of Rochester. I
am playing Lady in Blue. I am involved in
the Black Student’s Union and the Douglas
Leadership House. I took drama for two
years during high school and I am a spo-
ken word poet. I was inspired to audition
for For Colored Girls because it is unlike
any play that has been put on at the U of
R. I am glad to be a part of this new ex-
perience that touches on many issues that
women face.”
“I remember growing up one of my
dreams was to become an actress. I am very
excited about this production for many
reasons but mainly because I get to explore
my inner child. My name is Justine Robin-
son and I'm a sophomore at the University
of Rochester majoring in Psychology. I play
Lady in Brown in For Colored Girls and I
hope you all enjoy the show.”

6. “My name is Amber-Danielle Baldie and
tonight I will be your Lady in Yellow. I
am finishing up my freshman year at the
University of Rochester as a member of
the Class of 2015. I will be majoring in
Biomedical Engineering under the Hajim
School of Engineering. I am the Freshman
Representative for Black Students Union
(BSU), a member of the African dance
group Ma’Frisah under, and just recently
I became the president of the Douglass
Leadership House (DLH). The arts are
something that I take great pride in. I have
been acting all throughout Middle School
and High School and dancing/singing since
I was five at both my Dance Studio, Dance
Dimensions, and singing at the Eastman
School of Music.”
“My name is Melanie Brown-Lane
and I am a 4th year Hospitality and Ser-
vice Management major at the Rochester
Institute of Technology. I am originally
from Baltimore, MD and upon graduation
I intend to move to Los Angeles, Califor-
nia to attend culinary school to become
a personal chef and move on to open my
own restaurant. I am currently serving as
the President of the RIT chapter of the Na-
tional Society of Minorities in Hospitality
(NSMH), the Vice President of RIT's Slam
Poetry team: Mental Graffiti, as well as a
member of RIT's Velocity Hip Hop Dance
team. I play Lady in Red”

7. “My name is Zeleyka Fowler ( Lady
in Orange) and I am a sophomore Psy-
chology Major. I love theater, and I am a
member of the Gospel Choir. I also work
at UR Reading tutoring kindergarteners. I
joined the For Colored Girls Cast in hopes
of sharing something special and unique
with the campus, community, and fellow
cast members.”
Hi my name is Ellie Law and I am
an English Lit major. I am the Vice Presi-
dent of D’Lions and a Student Manager
at Connections. I have theater experi-
ence with Toop and Todd because love
the performing arts. I wanted to be in
For Colored Girls because I loved what it
stood for and I am happy to be a part of
this play. I love my cast and crew. Thanks
for coming to see the show!

8. Meet the Production Crew
My name is Makia Green and I play Lady in Green as well as direct, and co-produce
For Colored Girls. As a sophomore Psychology major, I am on the Active Minds E-board
and a member of Xclusive Step Team. I am also a member of the Student Organization for
Caribbean Awareness and the Black Students Union. This spring I became a Ronald E. Mc-
Nair Scholar and the Housing Coordinator for Douglass Leadership House. I am a native of
Harlem, NY. For Colored Girls has changed my life. Thank you for coming to see our show!
I am LaKiesha HolyField an I had a passion for theatre since mid-
dle school. I have acted, produced, directed, designed and worked technical-
ly for various productions. Here at the University of Rochester I am an avid mem-
ber of both Todd and TOOP and primarily focus on the art of costumes and props.
I have enjoyed helping producing this production of For Colored Girls and hope that it will
bring a new genre of theatre as well as an audience for theatre at the University of Rochester.
"This is a piece of timeless yet poignant and stirring piece of work. We have built such an
intimate family around this piece, and hope that the audience enjoys it as much as we have
working on it."

9. My name is Kathy Edouard. I am a sophomore and a Political Science major at the University
of Rochester and I’m from Brooklyn NY. I am also a member of Indulgence Dance Team and
the Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness. I am so excited to see this production
come to life as it was a vision that my roommates were enthusiastic about and shared with
me. As a member of the production crew I am the business writer for For Colored Girls. I am
proud to be a part of this great team of people and use my talents to assist with anything to
make this project possible.
My name is Erica Williams. I am a sophomore majoring in Brain and Cognitive Science here
at the University of Rochester. I am from the Far Rockaway, NY born and raised. I took on the
role as business manager/secretary in the production crew. For Colored Girls was our baby! We
put many hours into making this play awesome and it has been a great pleasure working with
everyone. This production process has helped us grow individually as well as a collective unite
of women. We learned to stand together and stay strong. My motivation for bringing this play
to campus was to make some noise and let people know who we are. I also wanted to stir up
awareness about the struggle women of color experience on the U of R campus. We are very
much alive and here, and we are not going anywhere! An important message this play gave me
was to love myself first.

10. I’m Kimberly Campbell, a senior Neuroscience major at U of R. On campus, I’m a member of
the Ballet Performance Group, and will be assisting the FCG play as a choreographer. I wanted
to be a part of this play because I know that self expression through the arts can be very thera-
peutic, and I believe that women talking about their trials and triumphs serves to let others
know that they are not alone in their struggles and that they can overcome them. Enjoy~
My name is Asia Ingram, I am a sophomore Biomedical Engineer from Chicago, IL. I am the
Admission's Chair for the Minority Students Advisory Board and was extremely excited to hear
about the For Colored Girls production and extremely excited when I was asked to work with
some of the girls for choreography and movement. In my dance career, I have never been in
a play nor have I ever helped out with one so this experience has been extremely rewarding.
Thank you for coming!

11. “my oceans were life”
Production Crew
“Three of us like a pyramid
three friends
one laugh
one music
one flowered shawl
knotted on each kneck”
“I loved you on purpose”

12. “My love is too delecate to have thrown back on my face”
“Ever since I realized there was
someone callt a colored girl.”
C
A
S
T
“A layin on of hands”

13. “yank dankka dank dank “
“A friend is hard to press
chargesagainst.”
“Let her be handled warmly”

14. “i found god in myself & loved her / i loved her fiercly”
“the sky
laid over
me like a
million men.”
‘Singablackgirl’ssong!”
“I wanna sing...make you dance
likethebata...dance.
...scream!”

15. Featured Songs
Rockin’ Robin by Jackson 5
In a Sentimental Mood ByJohnColtrane,MilesDavis,DukeEllington
Che Che Cole by Willie Colon
La Murga by Willie Colon
Black and Tan Fantasy by David Rose and His Orchestra
Fever By Beyonce
Can Your Monkey Do The Dog by Rufus Thomas
Please Mr. Postman by The Mavellettes
Stay in My Corner by The Dells
Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye

16. Honorable Mentions
Dean Norman Burnett
Melika Butcher
Valeria Sinclair-Chapman
Lydia Crews
LaChanda Mills
Sade Richardson
Charlana Simmons
Alan Rosales
Adrian Elim
and
Those who have contributed to the success of this production
These individuals have been a integral part of this production. From advi-
sors, past cast members and crew, they have supported us and aided us in
our mission. We take this time to show our gratitude to them.
Thank you for making this play a success and a possibility. You have sup-
ported us throughout this difficult process and gave us the guidance that
we needed to make our vision a reality. We are so grateful for each and
every one of you and hope that we can work together again on future en-
deavors.
Co-Sponsors
Black Student Union
Office of Minority Student Affairs
Susan B. Anthony Center for Gender and Women Studies
David T. Kearns Center for Leadership and Diversity
Woman of Color Circle
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Communal Principles Project

17. About Us
Over twenty five years ago, a group of concerned community members
vowed that no one in danger of being abused in their own homes, by
their own loved ones, should ever be alone and without refuge again.
They started on a shoestring, with little money but much passion and
conviction. Much like the women and children they were dedicated to
serving, they were brave, resilient, and never gave up hope. Today, we
see the results of their vision: a place where anyone who is a victim of
or at risk of domestic violence, can come for help, support and most
importantly, belief-in their story, in their dignity, in their right to live
free from fear and harm.
Alternatives for Battered Women exists to enhance the quality of life
and empower individuals affected by, or at risk of, domestic violence.
The Agency provides a full continuum of services, including crisis
counseling, support and prevention/education.
If you need help, or want to help others, simply call ABW at:
(585) 232-7353
Note from the Cast and Crew:
We are proud to contribute to Alternatives for Battered Women. Their
mission embodies many of the goals we strive to achieve with this pro-
duction in bringing awareness about issues facing our community.

18. Our Journey
This project started out as an idea and took flight immediately. The
response from falculty and students is what feuled our ambition and de-
termination. We began with small ideas; a small reading of the play with
friends to expose the topics Ntozake brings to life. After seeing the en-
couraging responses from faculty such as Dean Burnette, Dr. Chapman,
and Mrs. Crews, and positive reactions from our fellow students, we real-
ized we could do so much more. We recognized that we could lead the UR
campus to better a undertanding of the black female experience.
Using fall semester to gauge the interest of the community, after
winter break we hit the ground running. We held auditions, sponsorship
meetings, and then rehearsals. We were so busy we failed to see the proj-
ect growing larger than we ever anticipated. As to be expected we hit some
roadblocks, there were many times we doubted ourselves and our abilities.
Yet, with the encouragement of our friends and advisors we persevered.
Along the way we added new members to our team. LaKiesha, Asia,
and Kim all joined the production team during spring semester. To the
production team: From late rehearsals to last minutes meetings you guys
pulled through for this project and our mission. Many thanks!
We were also glad to finally have a cast. It seemed so unreal to put
faces to Ntozake’s seven women of color. In the end, they have done so
much more than that. To our ladies: You have molded these stories and
poems into your own testimonies. We have no doubt that you will all
move the audience, We bet they will “believe you”.
We are not sad for this night to end, because our project was more
than these two performances. The friends and connections we have madea
nd the lessons we have learned have made us better women . In the end,
we hope that by witnessing the growth of this project and experiencing
this performance will inspire others to do the same.
We found god in ourselves and loved her fiercly....

19. How many ways can you say to the world, “Hello, I am
here…”? According to poet, playwright, and author Ntozake
Shange, at least as many ways as there are colors in a rainbow, and
then some. The students whose brainchild it is to bring Shange’s
incredible choreopoem to the UR campus are reminding us, not
only that they are here, but also that they have both the right
and the responsibility to make their presence known. Putting on
a play of such raw emotion and intensity as For Colored Girls is
audacious and bold in any context. Coming up with the idea to
do so, pitching it, raising funds, directing, choreographing, and
producing it in the midst of a busy semester, on their own time, is
audacious, bold, and noteworthy. The women who organized and
perform in this production of the classic, For Colored Girls Who
Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, embody the
very essence of what this important work communicates to wom-
en and men, young and old, around the world: what it means
to be free, to have voice, to remember and be remembered, and
more than anything, to love and to survive. The UR is in for a rare
treat! And, we are fortunate to have such amazing women in our
midst! May we all find community in the rainbow, and discover
that it really is “enuf.”
Words of Encouragement from Dr. Valeria Sinclair Chapman

20. Announcements
Following our performance this weekend, we will hold a
workshop at the 2012 Diversity Conference to discuss how
and why we, as a random group of students, felt it was im-
portant to produce this play independently next weekend.
We will discuss what inclusiveness meant for us and this
production, and include two readings from the play as a ba-
sis for discussion. This discussion will take place at on Fri-
day, April 20th at 1:30 -3:00pm. The workshop is entitled,
Workshop B4: Redefining Inclusivity: Intersectionality and
the Black Female Experience.
The deadline for registering is April 10th. Here is the link:
http://www.rochester.edu/diversity/annualconference/2012/
agenda.html
After registering for the workshop, you will receive an
email about the location and etc.