The Colored Museum

Arabhis Nicholson 

Writer 

Just when you thought the curtains were closed, the theatre students brought another spectacular production to Fayetteville State University.

The second show to open in Seabrook Auditorium was one of the most memorable shows of the school year, The Colored Museum. This show provided a feast of back to back parodies and black stereotypes of today and yesteryear African-American entertainers. This play brought to the forefront issues such as racial identity, the weight of slavery and its effect on generations, and how African-Americans are portrayed in mainstream America.

The play effectively and courageously highlights the greatness and the magnificence of a people who have been through millenniums of struggles and have risen and continue to rise out of the residue of time and history. The pace with which this story was told was captivating. With the introduction of each new character, the landscape of African-American heritage was portrayed through entertainment and simultaneously evoked through emotions of sadness, all the while empowering the audience.

Let’s not forgot the amazingly talented actors who brought each character to life in a very unique way and helped underline the importance of Black History Month and its legacy. Each and every character was inspiring and incarnated a body of people who continue “defying logic and limitations,” and who continue to embrace their “madness and colored contradictions”.

The theatre was allowed an encore presentation of this show on February 25, 2014 in honor of Black History Month. The encore also allowed students another chance to catch the performance. This was a show not to be missed, especially since Fayetteville State University is an HBCU. This show provided snapshots of the past. The show weaved comical relief throughout the fabric of the production, but it also confronted the audience with painful truths, reminding us all of the reality of slavery and the role of African-Americans in history and mainstream America.

This show provided a cultural experience for the people of FSU and the surrounding community. It was the culmination of the profound genius and power of the performing arts.

The show was seeping with both seasoned and fresh talent. The stars of The Colored Museum were: Student Directors- Shabazz Davis, Tony Nelson, Alease Timbers, Lydia Williamson, Stage Manager- Christina “Jonesy” Jones, Properties- LaToya Thomas, Costuming-Alease Timbers, Sound Technician- Antonio Long, Lighting Technician- Anthony Velazquez, Crew- Members of Production Practicum, Git on Board- Traycie Kuhn, Photo Session with Calvin McDougal, and Autesha Southerland, Soldier with a Secret- Akang Udofia, The Gospel According to Miss Roj- Deon Lee, the Hair Piece- Gayle Nelson, Lydia Williamson, Victoria Utley, the Last Momma-on-the-couch Play- Wanda Offer, Lydia Williamson, Gayle Nelson, Calvin McDougal, Symbiosis- Tony Nelson, Deon Lee, Lala’s Opening- Calissa Dorsey, Autesha Southerland, Akang Udofia, Permutations- Autesha Southerland, and The Party-Lydia Williamson and others.