Crowns is based on Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry's book of photography, which depicts African-American women in their Sunday church hats. Israel Hicks will direct the upcoming production, which will play Ebony Rep's Nate Holden Arts Center May 8-June 14 before transferring to the Pasadena Playhouse July 10-Aug. 23.

Crowns, according to press notes, "celebrates family and faith, love and loss, seeking (and finding) one's true identity… Crowns captures the thrill of self-expression with an intimate look at six women's lives."

Pasadena Playhouse artistic director Sheldon Epps spoke of the newly formed collaboration with Ebony Repertory Theatre. He stated: "I am pleased and honored to enter into what I hope will be the beginning of a long and rewarding collaboration with Ebony Repertory Theatre. It is a great joy to be a participant in the Los Angeles premiere of Regina Taylor's joyous paean to African-American women, which fits so well into the Playhouse season celebrating women onstage."

Casting and creative duties will be announced shortly.

Taylor's plays include Drowning Crow, Magnolia, Rain, The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove, Inside the Belly of the Beast, Watermelon Rinds, Escape from Paradise and Urban Zulu Mambo. As an actress, she has appeared onstage in The Vagina Monologues, Jar the Floor, As You Like It, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. For further information and subscriptions, visit ebonyrep.org or pasadenaplayhouse.org.