A CHOREOPOEM OF VOICE, MOVEMENT, COLOR & SURVIVAL

Poetry becomes movement. Movement becomes story. And seven women step forward to speak truths that refuse to remain silent.

Ntozake Shange’s groundbreaking for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf is a landmark work of American theatre—a vibrant, deeply human exploration of the experiences of Black women told through poetry, music, movement, and dance.

ABOUT THE PLAY
Seven women, identified by the colors of the rainbow, come together to share stories of love, joy, heartbreak, abandonment, identity, violence, friendship, sexuality, resilience, and self-discovery.
Rather than following a traditional plot, Shange created what she called a “choreopoem”—a theatrical form that combines poetry, dance, music, and movement into one continuous expression. Individual voices emerge and intertwine, transforming deeply personal experiences into a shared journey.

The women speak about the exhilaration of discovering themselves and one another. They remember first loves and devastating betrayals. They confront racism, sexism, abuse, isolation, and the complicated expectations placed upon Black women. They celebrate music, laughter, friendship, sensuality, and the freedom of claiming one’s own voice.
Some stories are joyful. Others are painful. Together, they create something extraordinary: a portrait not simply of survival, but of sisterhood, self-worth, resilience, and becoming whole.

And through it all runs Shange’s extraordinary language—rhythmic, musical, intimate, defiant, vulnerable, and alive.

A LANDMARK OF AMERICAN THEATRE
First developed in the 1970s before arriving on Broadway in 1976, for colored girls challenged conventional ideas about what a play could be.

Shange placed the voices and experiences of Black women unapologetically at the center of the theatrical event. There are no traditional character names. Instead, seven performers become the Lady in Red, Lady in Orange, Lady in Yellow, Lady in Green, Lady in Blue, Lady in Purple, and Lady in Brown—individual colors that ultimately become part of something larger.

Nearly five decades later, the work remains startlingly immediate.
Its language continues to inspire generations of writers, performers, poets, and theatre-makers, while its celebration of Black womanhood, community, vulnerability, and resilience remains as vital as ever.

WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
Despite the weight carried within its title, for colored girls is ultimately filled with life.
It is about women discovering that their stories deserve to be heard.
It is about finding community when isolation feels overwhelming.
It is about reclaiming a body, a voice, an identity, and a sense of worth.
It is about recognizing the extraordinary power that can exist when individual voices stand together.
The journey travels through darkness—but it does not remain there.
There is color. There is movement. There is laughter. There is rage. There is tenderness. There is survival. There is joy.
And, finally, there is the possibility of discovering that the rainbow may indeed be enough.

CONTENT ADVISORY
This production contains mature language and themes, including discussions and depictions of racism, sexism, sexuality, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, abortion, abandonment, death, child loss, and suicide/suicidal ideation. Some material may be emotionally difficult for audience members. We encourage patrons to make the viewing choices that are right for them.