Crowns Bumps Gemini, the Musical at Prince Music Theater, June 12-July 3 | Playbill

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News Crowns Bumps Gemini, the Musical at Prince Music Theater, June 12-July 3 Regina Taylor's Off-Broadway and regional hit, Crowns, replaces Gemini, the Musical, as the season-ender at Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia, June 12-July 3.

Those curious about Gemini, the Philly-set show based on the play by Albert Innaurato, only have to wait until the fall. It will open the Prince season Sept. 25-Oct. 17. No other shows in the 2004-05 Prince lineup have been announced. The troupe is devoted to music-theatre works.

Inspired by a book about African-American women and their church hats, Crowns is "a lively and soul stirring portrait of African American women and how they define themselves through their hats," according to the Prince. This is the Philadelphia premiere of the show.

The gospel-infused show is adapted from the acclaimed book of photographs and interviews, "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats," by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry.

  The production is by The Intiman Theatre in Seattle. Jacqueline Moscou, an affiliate artist at Intiman and artistic director of the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, directs, with choreography by Donald Byrd.

Music direction is by Patrinell Wright. Prince Music Theater is at 1412 Chestnut Street. Opening night for Crowns is June 16.

Tickets for Crowns are $30 for previews, $43 for weekdays and $48 for weekends. For information, call (215) 569 9700 or visit www.princemusictheater.org.

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According to Crowns production notes, "Crowns explores the religious, cultural and symbolic importance of hats, from ceremonial headdresses in Africa to the civil rights era and beyond. The play combines personal stories, dance and music, which will be performed by two live musicians and a seven-member cast...

"Adapting the book for the stage, actor and writer Regina Taylor spent two years devising a theatrical language for the play, including a three-week residency at the Sundance Theatre Lab. In addition to introducing music and movement, Taylor distilled the women represented in the book to six female characters (and one man) and created a new character — a young woman from Brooklyn who is sent to live with her grandmother in South Carolina after her brother is shot."

 
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