Merced welcomes ‘Crowns’

A Playhouse Merced musical called “Crowns” that circles around black women in church services is set to premiere regionally just in time for Black History Month.

“Crowns” refers to the church hats that are such common sights in a predominantly black church. The show is opens 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Merced Multicutural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St.

The play was written by Regina Taylor, winner of a Golden Globe and a NAACP Image Award for acting roles. She’s also been nominated twice for an Emmy Award. She most recently starred in CBS’ drama “The Unit.”

She adapted the play from a book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. It tells the story of Yolonda, a young black woman from Brooklyn who has to move in with her grandmother in South Carolina after her brother is killed.

Director G.B. Blackmon III said the show, which features about 10 performers, includes music, comedy and history. The play connects the modern-day church hats with a long cultural history of decorative head wear.

“It talks about how hats are an African tradition that we adopted,” he said. “They would adorn their hair. We just adopted it to covering our heads, and it’s just something that started probably from the end of slavery.”

He said a number of the characters in the story will be familiar to those that grew up in the church, but the play should appeal to a wide audience because it’s about people.

“The things that Regina Taylor wrote are very true, and very universal,” he said.

Blackmon said this will be the second in as many years of a performance in February that featured a largely black cast. He said he expects a good reception from the community.

“This show doesn’t get done in a lot of places, especially California,” he said. “This is something new to our area that people should be excited about.”

“Crowns” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with showings at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. More showings are planned next weekend. Go to www.playhousemerced.com for more listings.

A special presentation at 7 p.m. Sunday will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County. For more information, call the Boys & Girls Club at (209) 722-9292.

Tickets range from $10 to $22 depending on age and if they’re purchased in groups of 10 or larger. Tickets for any show are available online at www.facebook.com/PlayhouseMerced, by phone at (209) 725-8587 or in person at the Playhouse Merced box office, 452 W. Main St.

The show is appropriate for all ages, according to organizers.

This story was originally published February 5, 2015 at 11:35 AM with the headline "Merced welcomes ‘Crowns’."