"Crowns" Original Painting ©2009 Synthia Saint James

CROWNS
By Regina Taylor
Directed by Israel Hicks
Adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry

July 10 - August 16, 2009

A co-production with Ebony Repertory Theatre in Association with Regina Taylor.

Winner of four Washington D.C. Helen Hayes awards including Best Regional Musical, Crowns explores the lives of the "hat queens," six women in the South whose stories of love, loss, identity and sisterhood are woven into the hats that crown their heads and the songs that speak their truth. Based on the acclaimed coffee table book, Crowns captures the thrill of self expression with a series of intimate musical
portraits.

A special note about this landmark co-production for Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps:

"I am pleased and honored to enter into what I hope will be the beginning of a long and rewarding collaboration with Ebony Repertory Theatre. It is a great joy to be a participant in the Los Angeles premiere of Regina Taylor's joyous paean to African-American women, which fits so well into the Playhouse season celebrating women onstage."

Quotes and Reviews
Related Links
More about the creative team
     Regina Taylor
     Israel Hicks


Quotes and Reviews
"CRITIC'S PICK!"
"Steamroller entertainment with a sweetly uplifting message! Both bittersweet memorial of hard times past and rousing celebration of cultural renewal present."
     - F. Kathleen Foley, Los Angeles Times

"DON'T MISS IT!"
"Classic gospel will have you rocking in your seats... the cast dazzles with song, dance and intimate portraits of their lives in turmoil and love."
     - Gail Choice, Our Weekly

"A high-octane roster of gospel songs!"
     - Peter Marks, Washington Post

"You feel that you've been transported to someplace real and welcomed there."
     - Bruce Weber, The New York Times

"Bold and hard to resist!"
     - The Chicago Tribune

"Crowns is a gem which throws light on a unique culture. Hats off to Regina Taylor!"
     - Irene Backalenick, New York Theatre Scene

Related Links*
Ebony Repertory Theatre
Regina Taylor's Official Site
Author Craig Marberry's Official Website
Photographer Michael Cunningham's Official Website

Bonus Features
Facebook Page
MySpace Page

Regina Taylor (Playwright): Taylor’s newest play, Magnolia, premiered at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre in March directed by Anna D. Shapiro (Tony Award winner). Her other plays include Oo-Bla-Dee, (2000 American Theatre Critics’ New Play Award); Drowning Crow which was produced on Broadway at Manhattan Theater Club’s Biltmore Theater; The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove; A Night in Tunisia; Escape from Paradise; Watermelon Rinds; and Inside the Belly of the Beast. Taylor’s acting credits include roles on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in numerous regional theaters. Her film credits include The Negotiator, Courage Under Fire, A Family Thing, The Keeper, Clockers, Losing Isaiah, and Lean on Me. Taylor received many accolades for her portrayal of Lilly Harper on the television series I’ll Fly Away (Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, NAACP Image Award - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama). Other television credits include CBS’ The Unit (2008 NAACP Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Drama), The Education of Max Bickford, Feds, Law & Order, Strange Justice playing Anita Hill (Peabody Award, Gracie Award), Cora Unashamed, Children of the Dust, and Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder. www.reginataylor.com  

Israel Hicks (Director): Pasadena Playhouse: Cuttin' Up (2006). In addition to being the Artistic Director for Ebony Repertory Theatre is the Chair and Artistic Director for the Theater Arts Department at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He served as Dean for the Conservatory of Theater Arts and Film, Purchase College, State University of New York. Mr. Hicks was the Associate Director at the Denver Theater Center Company. Mr. Hicks was guest director for the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center from 1996-1999; and he served as the Fullbright Scholar Selection Committee in 1998. Mr. Hicks has honored playwright August Wilson's by bringing each of his 10 plays to life over the past years.

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* Note that the links found on this part of the website take you to pages not monitored in anyway by Pasadena Playhouse. The views and opinions expressed on this websites do not reflect that of our theatre in any way.