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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Entertainment
Karu F. Daniels

‘For Colored Girls’ gets two-week Broadway extension after garnering most Tony nominations

NEW YORK — Don’t count “For Colored Girls” out just yet.

The Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange’s beloved choreopoem “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf” has been extended for two more weeks.

The announcement on Thursday followed Monday’s Tony nominations, where the Camille A. Brown-helmed show garnered seven nods, the most of any play this year.

The extension also comes a week after producers posted notices that the show would close on May 22.

The show – starring Stacey Sargeant, Alexandria Wailes, Kenita R. Miller, Tendayi Kuumba, D. Woods, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Amara Granderson – was originally scheduled to run through Aug. 14.

The Ron Simons-produced production will now continue through June 5 at the Booth Theatre.

In his review, Daily News theater critic Chris Jones cited the revival’s “many rich and vibrant moments.”

“For Colored Girls” tells the stories of seven women of color using poetry, song and movement to share experiences of survival and enduring racism and sexism in the 1970s.

Originating at a women’s bar in Berkeley, California, in 1974 before being professionally staged in New York City, “For Colored Girls” debuted at The Public Theater in 1976 and then moved to Broadway where it was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play in 1977.

In 1982, PBS’ “American Playhouse” adapted the production for the small screen starring Alfre Woodard, Trazana Beverley and Lynn Whitfield, which was followed by Tyler Perry’s 2010 superstar-laden big- screen version starring Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Anika Noni Rose, Thandiwe Newton, Tessa Thompson and Kerry Washington.

In 2019, The Public Theater produced a revival directed by Obie winner Leah C. Gardiner with choreography by Brown.

The 1975 Broadway production of “The Wiz” had a similar fate.

After receiving mixed reviews by theater critics, lead producer Ken Harper posted closing notices weekly as momentum steadily grew through grassroots marketing efforts.

The Geoffrey Holder-helmed musical, inspired by “The Wizard of Oz,” went on to to win seven Tony Awards (including best musical) and play more than 1,600 performances over a four-year run.

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