Crowns

The Studio Arena Theatre presents Crowns written by Regina Taylor, adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry and directed by Marion J. Caffey. Adapted from the acclaimed book, “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, Regina Taylor’s play presents an oral history of African-American women affectionately known as “hat queens.” Taylor, an artistic associate at Chicago’s Goodman Theater, creates a gospel-music-infused celebration of the tradition, style and grace of these women, their families, faith and journeys of self-discovery. Taylor tells the story through Yolanda, a tough black girl from Brooklyn who, after her brother is shot and killed, is sent to live with her grandmother in South Carolina. Through her grandmother and her fellow hat queens, Yolanda learns about the unique significance hats have among African American women.