Kaleidoscope Crown, written by playwright Ashleigh Akilah Rucker, tells the inspiring story of a young girl who awakens to a shocking new ability: with every new emotion, her hair is transforms into vibrant, multicolor tresses. This extraordinary change disrupts the uniformity and peace of her small traditional village, prompting both her and those around her to confront their perceptions of beauty and individuality.

Through her journey of self-discovery, the young girl learns to embrace her uniqueness, illustrating the importance of building self-esteem and confidence. By showcasing the impact of expressing one’s true self, Kaleidoscope Crown encourages audiences to reflect on their own identities and the significance of embracing their emotions. Kaleidoscope Crown promises to be an exploration of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of self-love.

Rucker draws inspiration from the art and traditions of the African Diaspora bringing the culture to the forefront of this play.

This world premiere production of Kaleidoscope Crown has been partially developed through a series of readings and workshops that have engaged COCA’s COCAwrites students for the past two years as part of the TYA/USA’s Reimagining TYA Program. The cast is comprised of professional adult actors and COCA pre-professional artists. 

Director: Alicia Like

Original Music: AhSa-Ti-Nu Tyehimba-Ford

Choreographer: Nyna Moore

Set Designer: Seth Howard

Costume Designer: Shevaré Perry

Lighting Designer: Jayson Lawshee

Recommended for Ages 6+

Run Time: 1 hour

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Kaleidoscope Crown Cast

Bibi | Margery Handy

Mother | Jailyn Genyse

Nia | Peyton Webster

Sanaa | Cayden Swink

Avery | Kameron Henry

Ade | Jaron Bentley

Villager 1 | Raina Bentley

Villager 2 | Rian Page

Villager 3 | Mahaila Carr

Councilwoman | De’Janna Scales-Hand