Kevin P. Chavous: College Readiness Is More Than Academics
Lionsgate has released the first official photo of 'Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls,' which will be shown in theaters on Nov. 5.
From left to right: Anika Noni Rose (as Yasmine), Kerry Washington (as Kelly), Janet Jackson (as Joanna), Kimberly Elise (as Crystal), Phylicia Rashad (as Gilda), Loretta Devine (as Juanita), Tessa Thompson (Nyla) and Thandie Newton (Tangie).
Written and directed by Perry, the film is based on the stage play 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf' by Ntozake Shange.
The story consists of a series of poems performed through a cast of nameless women known only by a color. The characters deal with subjects such as love, abandonment, rape and abortion.
The cast includes Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Kerry Washington, Phylicia Rashad, Macy Gray, Tessa Thompson, Michael Ealy, Hill Harper, Khalil Kain, Omari Hardwick and Richard Lawson.
In the film, Kain's character will be paired with Rose, while Hardwick's character is linked with Jackson's character.
To download a high-res version of the photo, click HERE.
Comments: (60)
Add a comment
By: Melanie on 9/07/2010 9:02PM
I have never been a fan of Tyler Perry's simply because of some of the negative stereotypes he has capitalized on in the past. However, I must admit that as a theatre artist I am EXTREMELY PLEASED to see him producing a legitimate theatre work. I have never gone to the movies to see any of his work, but I will be there on opening night for this one. Kudos Tyler!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: poetrysez on 9/07/2010 10:30PM
@ Jewel, ditto on the 9/3 post :)
I'm a supporter of all movies made by Black folks...as long as I don't have to wear X-rated glasses ;)
Tyler Perry has had all shades of Black people in his movies. Both television series have mostly dark-skinned actors. Shoutout to Keisha Knight Pulliam aka Rudy from the Cosby show because she's now a regular on the House of Payne (Miranda) since last season. Kudos to keshia for putting her education first, she’s a (Rutgers and Spellman alumni).
Whoopi Goldberg and Macy Gray aren’t in the photo nor are the male cast. The only light-skinned sistahs are Janet (after the bleached job because all of us remember little Penny from Good times), Tessa and Thandie. But for those of us who saw the play…we know that the original cast was diverse in skin tones.
Tyler Perry is focused on getting as close to the original production as possible. It would’ve been nice to see Phyllis Yvonne Stickney in this movie because she’s a huge talent but very under rated. And she’s gorgeous (stunning).
PS: Mr. Tyler Perry if you monitor blogs…you need to connect with Phyllis Yvonne Stickney because she’s a skilled thespian. She does a lot of theatre so she probably wasn't able to be in this movie but in the future...call a sistah!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jewel on 9/09/2010 3:13PM
Thank you :-) Is it me - or is it getting incredibly difficult to have a discussion with folks? So many people say things off the top of their heads and have no idea of what they are talking about and want to argue with you about it. Go figure.
Report This
By: Jewel on 9/09/2010 3:14PM
Oh - and I co-sign on Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
Report This
By: ARNEADER on 9/08/2010 2:00AM
Saw it in college at a HBCU 29 years ago.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: clarke on 9/09/2010 3:27PM
OK PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO DO A 180,NOT A 360,JUST HALF WAY. I'LL TAKE BACK MY FLOP COMMENT AFTER ALL HE DIDN'T WRITE THIS ONE, AND JUST BE THANKFUL HE DIDN'T TRY TO GET DUMB ASS MADEA A PART IN THE MOVIE. HOW'S THAT?
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: dee on 9/09/2010 11:24PM
Ntozke Shange selected the picture of a dark skinned black women to grace the cover of her book. All staged productions based on the "For Colored Girls" book, including the broadway production, featured dark skinned black women. Now, here is Tyler Perry, who I thought would have known better, has come with all these light skinned actresses. Don't get me wrong, the women chosen are beautiful good actresses, but come on!
Since the majority of the world's black women are dark-skinned (except in the world of hollywood that is), this makes no damned sense. Tyler Perry should leave the conscience black literature to someone who has a black conscience. At this particular time in history, we deserve no less...and I'm not accepting anything less. Will not be going to see this light-washed movie! Mad as hell. Dissing the dark skinned sisters like that.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: clarke on 9/10/2010 9:08AM
COULD IT BE THAT THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO SELL IT TO HOLLYWOOD AND GET IT INTO THE THEATERS. SINCE WE WON'T SUPPORT SPIKE OR JOHN SINGLETON WE HAVE TO ACCEPT WHAT WE GET. DUMB ASS MADEA. BLACK PEOPLE DON'T THINK VARIETY IS GOOD I GUESS. WE WANT TO STAY WITH THE SAME OLE TIRED THANG, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. STUCK ON STUPID.
Report This
By: poetrysez on 9/10/2010 7:59AM
The play is based on 20 poems that Ntokate wrote over a period of years. After reading the poems separately to audiences in San Francisco, and off-Broadway, she eventually combined the poems and after several revisions, For Colored Girls…became a huge Broadway hit!
The play is bases on 7 performers, with the exception of the color brown; all represent the color of the rainbow; orange, green, blue, purple, yellow and red. In a poetic fashion, all of these colors has a story to tell. One of the colors tells a story of a Creole woman that men seem to adore. Another color talks about having Puerto Rican blood, then proceed to speak Spanish.
In the play all of these characters are spoke of but not seen, however in the movie every character is real (you’ve an actual visual) which means someone has to play the role of the Creole and the Hispanic.
Most of the rainbow characters may be darskinned but the other characters who comes to life through these 7 women are very diverse.
In addition, Alfre Woodard and Lynn Whitfield were in the small screen version, and none of them are darskinned.
Fans of the play should focus on who plays the color brown because that woman is the main character.
Allegedly, Whoopi Goldberg wanted to bring this play to broadway last year, and the star was supposed to be India Arie but the funding fell through.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Sean on 9/10/2010 1:27PM
How is this going to do with the visartsociety.org play opening in Los Angeles at the same time?
Reply to this Comment | Report This