A CALIFORNIA BABY<\/p>\n
Tours with<\/p>\n
\u201cFOR COLORED GIRLS WHO\u2019VE CONSIDERED SUICIDE, WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENOUGH\u201d<\/p>\n
The year is 1977, and the theatrical production of \u201cFor Colored Girls who had Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enough\u201d, had just finished it\u2019s successful, run at the Mark Taper Forum In downtown Los Angeles. I\u2019d been an understudy to the wonderful Marilyn Coleman, who played the \u201cLady in Purple\u201d, and I was relieved that the run was over, and that Marilyn had remained healthy\u2026due to my bringing her a shot of whiskey every evening. We understudies had not had enough rehearsal, and did not feel prepared to \u201cgo on\u201d.<\/p>\n
On closing night, Director Oz Scott called a meeting of the cast, informing us that there was to be a National tour of the play, a production of The New York Shakespeare Company, and asked if any of us were interested in joining that production. I jumped at the chance to actually be rehearsed, and not only \u201cgo on stage\u2019 in this marvelous play, see also parts of the country\u2026.while getting handsomely paid\u2026for the seventies, anyway.<\/p>\n
There were three of us from the L.A. Company\u2026.Barbara Alston, Beverly Ann , and myself. Rehearsals began in October, NY, where we were joined by women, formally of the Broadway Company\u2026..and who dubbed us the \u201cCalifornia babies\u201d\u2026and you\u2019ll soon see why.<\/p>\n
Mid-October, we opened in Washington, DC, at the National Theater. The weather was lovely, Autumn like\u2026with trees actually having yellow, red and orange leaves. What s sight! Between shows, we visited all the National sights, Halls of Congress, etc., etc., and played to full, enthusiastic audiences.<\/p>\n
November, we opened in Boston at the Schubert Theater. Again, wonderful \u201cHouses\u201d. But what I remember most about Boston, was that while gazing from my hotel window one afternoon, I saw\u2026oh wonders\u2026SNOW, actually falling from the skies. I\u2019d never seen such. Oh sure, when in L.A., I\u2019d traveled to Big Bear and seen snow\u2026on the ground. But had never seen it actually \u201cfall\u201d!!. I thought it was sooo beautiful!<\/p>\n
December, we were in Cleveland\u2026.only thing I remember about Cleveland was that we had to spend Christmas there, the IAtSE House stage crew were said to be Mafia, and the weather, and the city sucked!<\/p>\n
Next, ah\u2026Chicago! January and February, 1978. The Blackstone Theater. A mix of audiences, mostly great \u2026though some of the men in that town were not so thrilled with the theme of the play,and let us know with some \u201cboos\u201d upon occasion. But all that aside\u2026the main,<\/p>\n
essential memories of Chicago was\u2026snow, and ice\u2026and wind\u2026.and bitter cold!! Although the company was booked at a fabulous hotel across town, the three of us, from L.A., booked rooms at the once grand, but now rather worn. Blackstone Hotel\u2026DIRECTLY across the street from the Blackstone Theater. As a result of the three of us NOT staying with the rest of the Company, we were labeled \u201cCalifornia Babies\u201d\u2026jokingly, by the East Coast contingency. Although we had to fight the infamous Chicago wind, the \u201chawk\u201d, and attempt not to slip and go sprawling as we crossed the icy street, while bundled in six layers of clothing for protection against the swirling snow\u2026. we didn\u2019t have to fight all the above elements while trying to hail a taxi from in front of the other hotel, way across town.<\/p>\n
It was Chicago, where I really knew that I needed a break from \u201cEastern U.S.\u201d weather. I took off a weekend ( understudy \u201cwent on\u201d) and I flew down to New Orleans, just in time for Mardi Gras, for some welcome warmth humidity.<\/p>\n
March of,\u201978, a couple of weeks in Toronto\u2026weather better, then on to Philly for April and May. Actual Spring\u2026great weather, great audiences.<\/p>\n
June in Detroit\u2026.hot, humid, and I\u2019m starting to get really home-sick. Heard of a new L.A. production, of \u201cColored Girls\u201d being formed by Woody King, for the Huntington Hartford Theater in Hollywood. Contacted Woody, begged him to cast me\u2026his response\u2026\u201dcome on out, and we\u2019ll see\u201d. So\u2026took a chance, gave two weeks notice. So after eight months of touring the Eastern United States, with it\u2019s very different climes, weathers and cultures\u2026. this \u201cCalifornia Baby\u201d came home.<\/p>\n
The End<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Once upon a time\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A CALIFORNIA BABY Tours with \u201cFOR COLORED GIRLS WHO\u2019VE CONSIDERED SUICIDE, WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENOUGH\u201d The year is 1977, and the theatrical production of \u201cFor Colored Girls who had Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enough\u201d, had just finished it\u2019s successful, run at the Mark Taper Forum In downtown Los Angeles. I\u2019d been an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-highlight"],"metadata":{"_edit_lock":["1679679283:311"]},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n