Loyola University’s Department of Theatre Arts & Dance is excited to present Ntozake Shange’s powerful choreopoem, for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, from October 24 through November 2 at Marquette Theater.

Originally written in 1976, for colored girls is a groundbreaking piece in American theatre. Shange’s series of poetic monologues uplifts the struggles, resilience, strength and magic found within women of color, exploring themes of racism, sexism and oppression. Through poetry, music and dance, the play’s seven women, each named after a color of the rainbow, share their own stories and the stories of others in a deeply moving performance.

The Loyola production will showcase an entirely student cast of women and gender-nonconforming artists of color, including seven performers and one understudy. According to Helen Jaksch, professor of practice in theatre arts, the entire creative team, from director and choreographer Kai Knight to the stage management and design teams, is composed of people of color.

“I’m so proud of our students, who are being challenged and supported like never before,” said Jaksch,  “And Kai Knight is the perfect person to guide and uplift these young artists through this tough and beautiful piece. It’s been amazing to see them grow and blossom through this process.”

For colored girls is notable as only the second play by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway, following Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun in 1959. The Loyola production runs 80 minutes with no intermission, and performances will take place on October 24-26 and October 30-November 2 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on October 27 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for students with ID, $15 for seniors and Loyola faculty/staff, and $20 for adults. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit Loyola’s events page.

colored girls who have considered suicide