‘for colored girls who have considered Suicide/when the Rainbow is enuf’ @ Theatre Arlington

Graphic designs by Hannah Bell; photos by Dani Holway

—Jan Farrington

It’s been a half-century since Ntozake Shange’s play for colored girls who have considered Suicide/when the Rainbow is enuf made its appearance on the stage of Broadway’s Booth Theatre in September 1976. And though it wasn’t the first show by a black playwright to run on Broadway, it certainly changed what could be—and blew out some walls—for critics and audiences alike. colored girls ran for two years, and ended up having 200 more performances than a show nearby that opened along with it, the hippie-hit musical Godspell.

So, 50 years later, what can we say?

There’s reason to rejoice; there’s reason to be sad—but more than anything, there’s all the reason in the world to see this musical at Theatre Arlington, whether it’s a repeat for you, a three-peat, or a very first time.

The rejoicing comes from what we see and hear on the stage: seven fine Black actresses (many are familiar NTX performers) bringing Shange’s “choreopoem” to vibrant life. For that’s what she called it, and her mix of poetry, dancing, movement, song and passionate feeling is as electric as ever.

The sadness comes from our realization that the “Black girl’s songs” we hear from the performers are the same audiences heard all those years ago—and though some things have changed, so much has not. As we watch and listen, we find ourselves “relating” to these women’s love affairs, marriages, losses, limited lives, and experiences of abuse—plus all the goals and dreams they’ve had to push aside. I’s heartbreaking, and hits close to home for all too many in the theatre and out in the world.

Director Ken’ja Brown has a firm grasp of how the piece lives in the past and present, of the mechanics and the emotional tones. And she’s clearly put plenty of thought into how she supports seven performances of great individuality from the ladies in Yellow (Adia Best), Purple (Kimberly Turner), Red (Nikkia Matthews), Brown (Emma Annan-Noonoo), Green (Audra Scott), Blue (Janette Robinson), and Orange (Noelle Saul)—each one dressed in a color pulled from the rainbow in the title. (Costumes by Hope Cox.)

I’m not going to try to pick favorites among these compelling performers. If you go, you will recognize who they are—perhaps someone you’ve known, loved, lost, or been. They are sensual, vibrant, wised-up, pushed to the limit, virginal, experienced, fed up, moving on, clinging to, terrified to run away—or finally standing up and walking on. A series of poems/movement called “no more love stories” fleshes out their stories. In one, they all love the same man (faithless to all of them) and come together to find a path to a different future. As a performance group, they become something like a wounded family…with hope on the horizon, but always a bit too far down the road.

Choreographer Kiandra Brooks combines classic theatrical movements, lush and swirling, with modern moves that stretch the body and put edges on the story being told. Bryan Stevenson pulls together a simple but glam set (a curve of dark and sheer draperies, each framing one chair for a performer), plus taking charge of lighting and technical demands—with Ryan Simon adding to everything with crystal clear sound. Rayven Harris does a flawless turn as stage manager, with a good assist from Teyah Green.

Fifty years on, it’s still something to see.

WHEN: July 10-19, 2026
WHERE: 305 West Main Street, Arlington TX
WEB: theatrearlington.org