Colored Museum cast members pictured, (front) DeHaven Rogers (Hamilton), Gertrude Michel (Trenton), Domonique Jarrett (Hightstown), Wellington Talkpa (Hamilton) (back) Amariss White (Trenton), Deena Jiles Shuaib (Trenton), and Program Coordinator Jody Person. (Photo by Huascar Fiorletta.)
The Mercer County Community College students are set to present The Colored Museum May 11 through 12.
Six students are set to act in 11 scenes, some playing as many as four differently roles in the show.
African American dramatist George C. Wolfe’s earned the Dramatists Guild Award for the play, which premiered in 1986 at Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick.
The Colored Museum is about racism, oppression, and stereotypes in the post-civil rights era. Wolfe uses theatrical elements like slapstick and rhythm and blues to comment on African American culture.
Scene include “Git on Board,” “Last Mama on the Couch,” and “Cookin’ with Aunt Ethel.” Each scene runs about 10 minutes.
The cast features De Haven Rogers and Wellington Talkpa of Hamilton, Domonique Jarrett of Hightstown and Gertrude Hibare-Michel, Taylor Pickett-Stokes and Amariss White of Trenton.
Artist Tamara Ramos, an MCCC alumna, serves as artistic coordinator for the production. She enlisting other artists like Huascar Fiorletta, Lauren Ferguson, Suziana Johnson and Cindy Ridolfino-Grainger to create scenery for the play.
The production team also includes MCCC alumna Shauri Johnson as stage manager and faculty member Kate Pinner as set and costume designer.
Performances are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 10, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m May 11 and 12 p.m. May 12 at the Sewing Laboratory in MCCC’s Trenton Hall, 137 North Broad Street, Trenton. An art show and party is set to follow the May 12 show.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for MCCC students, staff and faculty. Thirty tickets are available for each performance.
Tickets can be purchased at the Bursar’s office at MCCC’s Trenton Campus or by calling (609) 570-3160.
This year, the MCCC Theatre program expanded its repertoire of shows to include more plays by women and playwrights of color. In the fall, students presented Funny House of the Negro, a depiction of African Americans in the 1960s, and Vagina Monologues, a one-woman play by Eve Ensler.
More information is online at mccc.edu.
