FOR COLORED GIRLS
(music/book)
A musical adaptation of the 1976 choreopoem “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf” by ntozake shange.
A two-act sung-through musical setting of the original text, the piece explores the inner lives of an ensemble of seven Black women, each of whom represent a color of the rainbow. With jazz, R&B, and musical theater as its soundtrack, the show explores themes including racism, sexism, love, friendship, and identity that continue to resonate almost 50 years after the original work’s debut.
May 2026 - Concert, Lincoln Center Presents: American Songbook
May 2023 - Reading, New York City Center
April 2023 - Production, Yale University
Developed in collaboration with the Ntozake Shange Revocable Trust.
samples available upon request.
TEAM (2026)
director/choreographer - ellenore scott
composer/lady in brown - natalie brown
lady in red - kayla davion
lady in orange - veronica otim
lady in yellow - samantha williams
lady in green - nkeki obi-melekwe
lady in blue - victoria pekel
lady in purple - courtnee carter
music director/piano - sam appiah
bass - jacob brown
guitar - marcos robinson
drums - janae yates
curator, american songbook at lincoln center - clint ramos
lincoln center visionary artist - jeanine tesori
TEAM (2023)
director - faith zamblé
composer/music director/co-producer - natalie brown
lady in red - olivia ridley
lady in orange - meg ruoro
lady in yellow - lula talenfeld
lady in green - jackie testamark
lady in blue - victoria pekel
lady in purple - nina grigg
lady in brown - kendall grimes
piano - natalie brown
bass - thara joseph
guitar - grace halak
drums - gabriel marous, jorge banuelos
trumpet - truth templeton
Photo credit (Lincoln Center): Lawrence Sumulong