8 Chances for You to See "Crowns"

Inspired by a book about the hats that some African-American women are famous for wearing, the musical "Crowns" opens at the Open Space Cafe Theatre on Thursday, August 7, 2008 and runs through Sunday, August 17, 2008.

Beloved by readers, "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats" (by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry) moved playwright Regina Taylor enough to create a gospel-style tribute to these women and their hats.

The synopsis from the OSC Theatre website: "A musical tribute to the fabulous church hats and the African-American women for whom they are symbolic crowns, a means to express themselves in the presence of God. The story of a Brooklyn girl, staying with her grandmother in the South following a tragedy, is a springboard for an exploration of black cultural history and identity."

Receiving positive reviews in Orlando, New York, and San Francisco, "Crowns" will be directed locally by Donna Baldwin-Bradby, a North Carolina A&T State University adjunct professor and the recent director of Triad Stage's "From the Mississippi Delta."

If you haven't seen a show at the Open Space Cafe Theatre yet, this would be a great chance to see your first performance there. It's a small, intimate theatre, and since I first discovered the OSC Theatre a year ago, I've thoroughly enjoyed every production they've done. (The only show I've missed was "Godspell," and that's because it sold out before I was able to get tickets for the night I could have attended.) Knowing what an amazing job Baldwin-Bradby did with "From the Mississippi Delta," I'm looking even more forward to seeing "Crowns."

Here is all the information you should need to get your tickets and attend, and be sure to spread the word among your friends and family members:

• The Open Space Cafe Theatre is located at 4609 West Market Street/ Greensboro, NC 27407 (across from Bert's Seafood Grille; directions here).
• Call 336-292-2285 for tickets.
• $20.00 per ticket; $17.00 for seniors; $10.00 for students, 17 years and younger. (Groups of 8 or more receive a $2.00 discount.)
• Desserts, coffee, sodas, and wine may be purchased before the show and enjoyed at the tables that are a part of the theatre's cafe-style seating.

These are your 8 chances to see "Crowns":

• Thursday, August 7 at 8:00 PM
• Friday, August 8 at 8:00 PM
• Saturday, August 9 at 8:00 PM
• Sunday, August 10 at 2:00 PM
• Thursday, August 14 at 8:00 PM
• Friday, August 15 at 8:00 PM
• Saturday, August 16 at 8:00 PM
• Sunday, August 17 at 2:00 PM

Enjoy!