Review: ‘for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf’ at The Last Acting Studio

Ntozake Shange’s 1976 Obie Award-winning choreopoem “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf,” directed by Desean K. Terry at The Last Acting Studio, follows several Black women as they share personal stories centered around love, heartbreak, trauma, identity, sexuality and survival.

From left: Aliysa Shareef, Serenity Calhoun, Ryn Stafford, Sequoiah Blaire and Alise Willis in rehearsal for The Last Acting Studio's "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf" (Photo by Jack Callahan)

Through poetry, storytelling, music, and dance, each woman is given the space to share her experiences, creating moments of connection and understanding. At its core, it’s a play composed in pieces about Black sisterhood, healing, and learning how to reclaim your sense of self after experiencing loss and trauma.

Each member of the rotating cast in this production brings authenticity and vulnerability to their performance. The beauty of this piece is that it gives each woman the opportunity to shine while still working together as an ensemble. Their collective ability to actively listen and remain present with one another helps each story feel connected from beginning to end.

Scene from The Last Acting Studio's "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf" (Photo by Billy J. Baker)

Ashley August brings incredible stage presence and delivers a heartfelt performance in the piece “somebody almost walked off wit all my stuff.” Aliysa Shareef draws the audience in with her strong storytelling abilities, especially in “i usedta live in the world.” Serenity Calhoun brings moments of playfulness and joviality that provide a needed contrast to the heavier themes. Sequoiah Blaire brings a natural fluidity to her performance, while Briana Price moves through the production with a quiet power and delivers an emotionally impactful performance in “a nite with beau willie brown.”

Terry’s direction is subtle and rooted in the trust he places in the actresses and the material. He understands that he can never completely know the depths of the Black female experience, so rather than forcing his own perspective onto the work, he creates space for the women to bring their own experiences, emotions, and understanding to the piece. His staging keeps the entire ensemble onstage without anyone distracting from one another, while the transitions move naturally throughout the production.

Scene from The Last Acting Studio's "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf" (Photo by Billy J. Baker)

Terry’s set design frames the stage with long, sheer fabric-panels in shades of red, orange, pink, cream and muted purple, creating a layered, almost dreamlike environment. Chinaza Moses’ costume design gives each woman an individual look that supports her personality and story. Izzy Donenberg’s lighting design plays a major role in shaping the atmosphere, using purple, orange, red and blue washes to support the emotional shifts throughout the piece.

There is minimal sound design, but the moments where music is incorporated help elevate the production. One of the most memorable comes when the women dance to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up,” creating a fun and energetic moment for the audience.

Scene from The Last Acting Studio's "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf" (Photo by Billy J. Baker)

Trauma and survival, working in tandem with sisterhood, are the thematic heartbeat of this production. Each woman brings her own pain into the space, but what makes these moments resonate is the way they lean on one another for understanding, comfort and strength. The production shows how sisterhood can help these women not only survive but begin to thrive without allowing their trauma to define them.

This production kept me engaged from beginning to end and left me wanting more. The audience was fully invested, often snapping and clapping between the poetic moments. I was thoroughly impressed by the technical aesthetics and the honesty, vulnerability and commitment of the performers. While some understandably had scripts available as a reference point, they rarely felt necessary because the performers were so locked into the material. Aside from that, I would happily recommend, see and support this production again.

“for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” performed from Aug. 7 to 28 at The Last Acting Studio, 1914 Raymond Ave., Los Angeles. Run time is 90 minutes with no intermission.