Product Details

• Actors: Sarita Allen, Trazana Beverley, Laurie Carlos, Gregory T. Daniel, Jackie Davis
• Directors: Oz Scott
• Writers: Ntozake Shange
• Producers: Jac Venza, Lindsay Law
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: May 14, 2002
• Run Time: 78 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000067IYK
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,515 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Broadway > Broadway Theatre Archive

• For more information about "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf - Alfre Woodard, Lynn Whitfield (Broadway Theatre Archive)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This item is part of The Broadway Theatre Archive Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

This video, from the Broadway Theater Archive of PBS's New York affiliate, WNET, offers an imaginative, if occasionally heavy-handed, television adaptation of Ntozake Shange's poetic theater piece. Originally staged at the Public Theater in New York, this 1982 production is directed by Oz Scott, who transforms what were a series of feminine monologues about the black woman's struggle to find her place in a man's world. What Shange's language conjures by itself onstage, Scott helps visualize on video, a proposition that misses as often as it hits. Language about boyfriends isn't made clearer or more vital by showing us who's being talked about. But the overproduction can't strip Shange's language of its juicy richness--and it is offered with power and humor by a cast that includes then-fledgling actresses Lynn Whitfield and Alfre Woodard as well as Shange herself. --Marshall Fine

Product Description

The history of black women in America: having emigrated on a purely involuntary basis, they became slaves to white America and nurturers to white America's offspring. They were rewarded by being the last Americans given the right to vote. This explosive, vivid "choreopoem" illuminates the story of black women in America as they celebrate in song, poetry and dance their strength, beauty and enormous capacity for love. The seven women comprising the cast, including author Ntozake Shange, share with the viewer their exuberance for life and their ability to begin again, no matter how ridiculous the odds. "A play that should be seen, savored and treasured." --The New York Times. With Alfre Woodard, Ntozake Shange, and Lynn Whitfield.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The search is over...., May 5, 2004

By A Customer

I have been looking for this video for at least 10 years! I gave up a few years ago. I was just doing a random search and I can't believe it's been on Amazon all this time! There are no words to describe this play. The older I get, each poem takes on a new and deeper meaning. I am overjoyed to own a copy of this extraordinary work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not true to the written play, March 31, 2007

By	M. E. Kelly (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The performances in this are spectacular. Shange's poetry comes alive.

However, there are two problems I have with this. First, is that one of the poems is left out entirely (latent rapist). Second, they have men in the film that speak some of the words. I think the power of "for colored girls" comes from the words only coming from women, since this play is for girls from women's mouths.

Still an amazing piece of artistry, and better than not seeing it live at all.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible piece of artistry..., October 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf (Broadway Theatre Archive) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I had the distinct pleasure of actually viewing this work while it was on Broadway. It was presented with such grace and impressionism that the messages contained therein have remained lucid in my mind for over 20 years. I was a mere teen at the time, and in early adulthood, I finally read the book. I can remember my Mom reading it after me and remarking how if she'd known the language was so strong, she may not have allowed me to see it at the theatre. However, it has been my experience that strong individuals have to use only the strongest and effective means when communicating "the" message. Although I have not yet viewed the video, I am sure that the focus couldn't have diminished much from it's origin as impeccable works of art only get better with time. Hats off to Sister Shange for keeping it real...even way back then!!