TDF Stages

Alexandria Wailes and Michelle A. Banks on the inclusivity of the Tony-nominated revival

After 26 years of friendship and artistic collaboration, Alexandria Wailes and Michelle A. Banks are thrilled to be reunited on Broadway for for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. As two proud "Black, Deaf women who are claiming Broadway," they are thrilled to be bringing their full selves to Camille A. Brown's critically acclaimed production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem, which has been nominated for seven Tony Awards including best revival of a play. Wailes portrays the Lady in Purple and performs the role in American Sign Language (ASL). Banks serves as the show's Director of Artistic Sign Language, working closely with Wailes and Brown to translate Shange's powerful poetry into ASL. Join TDF on Wednesday, June 1 at 3 p.m. ET on our Facebook page or YouTube channel as we share a fascinating conversation between these pioneering theatre-makers who have spent the past two decades working to make performances on Broadway and beyond accessible and inclusive. This conversation was conducted in American Sign Language and captions will be available.

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Top image: Michelle A. Banks and Alexandria Wailes.