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Crowns

By Regina Taylor
Adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry

August 25 – September 17, 2017
Cantey V. Sutton Theatre

View the photos by Brenna L.J. Berry-Stewart.

A moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of Black history and identity is seen through the eyes of a young black woman who has come down South to stay with her aunt after her brother is killed in Brooklyn.

Hats are everywhere, in exquisite variety, and the characters use the hats to tell tales concerning everything from the etiquette of hats to their historical and contemporary social functioning. There is a hat for every occasion, from flirting to churchgoing to funerals to baptisms, and the tradition of hats is traced back to African rituals and slavery to the New Testament and current fashion.

Cast

Mother Shaw: Lynnette Barber
Mabel: India Williams
Velma: Chanda Branch
Wanda: Aya Wallace
Jeanette: LaToya Smith
Yolanda: Chelsey Moore
Man: Joshua Johnson

Production team

Director: Terra Hodge
Musical Director: Carolyn Colquitt
Choreographer: Brenda Hayes
Stage Manager: Chris Acevedo
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Heath
Production Manager: Todd Aberts
Technical Director: Duncan Jenner
Scenic Designer: Shannon Clark
Lighting Designer: Jeremy Diamond
Costume Designer: Vicki Olson
Sound Designer: Todd Houseknecht
Percussionist: Bernard Clark

Production crew

Set Painter/Artist: Jen Leiner

Deck crew: Alex Gromo (Coordinator), Catherine Lambe, Kishami A. Pierre-Louis, Alan Waller, David Wilk, Barbara Witherwax

Costume Shop Crew: Jenny Mitchell (Shop Manager), Barbara Biggs, Ann Boivin, Bonita McPherren, Susan Zilber

Light Board Crew: Barbara Witherwax (Coordinator), Barbara Corbin, Jane Gault, Alex Henson, Tiffanie Jones

Sound Board Crew: Todd Houseknecht (Coordinator), Ryan Cooper, Eric Krebs, Shannon Plummer-White, Kristen Stinnett

Set Construction Crew: Duncan Jenner (Shop Manager), Amanda Casachahua, Brett Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Emily Dubois, Rachel Dubois, Pramila Dhyani, Britt Kirby, Byrd Kirby, Abigail Pitts, Alexander Snelling; Thursday Crew: Noel Butzke, Dave Davis, Don Gillett, Gene Harshbarger, Charles Hart, Sara Mathews, Don Miller, Jack Murray

House Managers: Tara Smith (Coordinator), Maria Barber, Judy M. Dove, Lilo Miles, Tina Morris-Anderson, Elizabeth Robinson, Joel Schaer, Judi Wilkinson

Audition Crew: Marie Berry (Coordinator), Barbara Corbin, Tamara Hopson, Gloria Rich, Bunny Safron, Jack Safron