The Program and Cast List

The Story

Shades of Black:
a thought in progress
Written and Directed by
Khadijah Ali-Coleman
Meet Moon, a 20 year-old college student who loves being young,
hip and popular. As she revels in her love of pop culture, she
shares with the audience that she feels a sense of conflict between
who she is and who her mother believes she can be.
Shades of Black: A Thought in Progress is a dramatic piece laced
with off-beat humor and cultural relevance presented in a contemporary
mix of spoken word, a capella sylings, dance and traditional
monologue.
We laugh with Moon whose week is on lock as she plans to see her
favorite rapper in concert, as she gets her hair done and once she
decides to take part in the Jena 6 rally. Treated to glimpses of the
drama behind the scenes, the audience is able to witness the personal
conflict of some of Moon’s favorite people—even when Moon
is not-- while being part of Moon’s change in thought and perception
as her week strays from one of youthful innocence to one of
hard-learned solemnity. The play’s “greek chorus” of sorts come in
the guise of Black Shakespeare—a lyric-spitting poet—and Segue-
Way—a singing traveler who strings each scene together through
original and classic verses of songs.

Morgan State University students star in this first presentation by
the MSU's AEP Artist Collective. Shades of Black is produced
by Morgan State University's Office of Residence Life.

If you would like to be a part of the AEP Artist Collective, email
msuaep@moac.morgan.edu or call x3388. The next AEP Artist
Collective production is “The Vagina Monologues” in March
2008, directed by Susan O’Hara, written by Eve Ensler.
Song rapped by the character Contradiction was written by Khadijah Ali-Coleman, the music was produced by MYST Studios

Intro song for "good hair" scene was Jill Scott's song "Hate On Me"

Outro song was The Roots' "One Shine" featuring Cassandra Wilson and Amel Larrieux

Segue-Way performs “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley & “Lovin You” by
Minnie Ripperton. The play intro featured Erykah Badu’s “AD 2000”

Shades of Black: a thought in progress

was produced by the Morgan State University

Office of Residence Life

The CAST

of Shades of Black: a thought in progress

Moon- Krystal Dynasty Brown
Moon (voice over)- Susan O'Hara
Black Shakespeare– Suraju Ola Jolaoso
Segue-Way- Stephan Cox
Announcer- Suraju Ola Jolaoso
Contradiction- Jerron Gerald
Hype Man #1- Brendan Jackson
Hype Man #2- Brandon Williams
Contradiction Dancer #1– Stee Ferrell
Contradicition Dancer #2– Tiffany Hathorn
Seela- Devan Prescott
Woman #1-Keairra Adams
Woman #2-Walida Mukhtar
Woman #3-Zyrashae Smith
Woman #4- Stee Ferell
Ola Mae- Adongo Tia-Okwee
Dancer Soloist: Ashley Broden
Trumpet Player– Jared Perry
Mr. Graves- Kendrick McCleod
Mr. Hall– Brandon Williams
Mr. Davis– Robert Jamall Johnson
Jena Protester #1-Brendan Jackson
Jena Protester #2- Jasmine Couch
Jena Protester #3-Zyrashae Smith
Segregation Protester #1– Claudette Rhone
Segregation Protester #2-Adongo Tia Okwee
Segregation Protester #3/singer- Kendrick Mcleod
Ashol- Brandon Williams
Bria-Susan O'Hara
Lisa- Vidda Beache
Brother #1– Robert Jamall Johnson
Brother #2- David Lewis

Final Show A Hit!

The final show was awesome. The cast and crew did a great job bringing it home. Enough money was raised to pay for the services to record the video and have it edited for distribution. Admittance was free for all Morgan students with a valid school ID and $5 for general admission. So...the amount of money we raised was a healthy amount to pay for costs for the production and for video editing services. Yeay!

Our casting party was after the last show. Everyone in the show had up to two people present who was there to support them. The cast circled up to give thanks and give testimony of what the highlights were for them throughout the preparation of the show. It was an almost tearful moment for everyone but the mood was lightened with fun pictures and good food.

The final show was recorded and will be the show that will be on DVD. DVDs of the show will be available soon for purchase for $5. Contact us at shadesofblackplay@gmail.com

Several of the cast members and the director, Khadijah Ali-Coleman, will be performing next in the upcoming production of the Vagina Monologues to open in the MSU Student Center Theater on March 5, 2008, running until March 6. Email the director of the Vagina Monologues production, Susan O'Hara at susan_ohara_aep@yahoo.com for more information.

Day Two of Shades of Black Has Even Larger Audience!

(actors in Shades of Black: a thought in progress- (l to r) Actress Tiffany Hathorn getting her make-up done by Brittainy Bell, actor Brendan Jackson in closing scene, actress Keairra Adams smiling for pre-show shot and actress Krystal Dynasty Brown as the main character "Moon")

Over 200 audience members packed the Morgan State University Student Center Theater to catch the second day showing of Shades of Black on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 at 7:30pm.

Opening Night Is A Hit Despite Weather

The weather was horrendous. Forecasters called for sleet. And we got sleet. The freezing rain that continued into the night was not expected though. A bus-load of youth from Covenant House Washington had reserved tickets to attend and they were stuck in two hours of traffic before making it to the play late. The weather was just that bad. That's why we were shocked to even have the 120+ people that showed up the first night. It was fabulous.

(photos of audience members on opening night)

The audience was interactive-- talking aloud to characters-- and enthusiastic, applauding after each scene. The actors had a great time. There were few technical glitches I'm responsible for (poor communication with the tech) but all in all, it was a great first day run! I was so proud.

(photos of actresses in the play Shade of Black: a thought in progress on Feb. 12, 2008)

Rehearsals Heat Up as Opening Approaches

Rehearsals for Shades of Black: a thought in progress are more frequent now as the play's opening approaches. It is pretty nerve-racking. The actors are students of Morgan State University's AEP ARTist Collective, so attending rehearsals during the weekday have been maneuvering tricks as it has been challenging coordinating everyone's different schedules. But we're doing it!

It has been exciting because we are receiving calls from people from different locations who have heard about the play and are planning to attend. The cast is filled with nervous excitement.

During rehearsals, the scene that never fails to give everyone chills is the scene with the characters Contradiction and Seela, his sister. The two actors, Jerron Gerald and Devan Renee Prescott sizzle on the stage.

The set is pretty simple-- four black boxes where actors either sit or stand on. Our set manager, Dave Lewis, is also working on creating a makeshift backstage for us, since the stage we will be in will not have the traditional backstage. Everything on our end seems to be coming nicely. However, technical issues in the theater still arise and we detected a leak after a recent heavy rain. We'll see. Fingers crossed.

Shades of Black Set To Debut

Educator and writer Khadijah Ali-Coleman writes original play to be produced at Morgan State University in February 2008. Baltimore, MD, November 07, 2007 --(PR.com)-- On October 24, 2007, dozens of Morgan State University (MSU) students answered a casting call for actors for the original play "Shades of Black: A Thought In Progress".

The play, written by writer and youth advocate Khadijah Ali-Coleman piqued the interest of students who had previously viewed the video intro of the play found on Facebook."I was intrigued," said one student. The video intro presents images of Black America-- inclusive of everything from Flava Flav to pictures of civil rights activists-- set to the song "A.D. 2000" by Erykah Badu. Ali-Coleman, founder of So Our Youth Aspire (SOYA), LLC, created the video to solicit those interested in participating in the play and to entice people to want to come and see the play when it comes to stage.

Ali-Coleman, a thirty-something year-old writer and community activist wrote the play in response to what she calls a pervasive assault on the senses of self-loving Black people. She incorporated her nonprofit So Our Youth Aspire (SOYA), LLC in 2005 to begin progressive work in reaching younger populations and feels her play continues that work. It aims at encouraging youth to be discriminating."This is not a play talking about why music is bad but rather looks at how allowing negativity to define you creates a domino affect on every aspect of your life. My hope is that the play will encourage people-- particulaly young people-- to critically think about all that they see, hear, believe and embrace."

Jacquelyn Thomas, an MSU student who was cast in the role of Black Shakespeare-- a spoken-word spitting sage who appears sporadically throughout the play-- believes that the play is reminiscent of George C. Wolfe's iconic play "The Colored Museum".

"The way it educates and entertains is done brilliantly," Thomas says

"Shades of Black: A Thought in Progress" will appear at MSU's Student Center Theatre on February 12, 13 and 14 in 2008. Call 443-885-3388 for ticket information. The play is produced by Morgan State University's Office of Residence Life as part of their Black History Month series.