Park Square's Nina Simone: FOUR WOMEN Takes To Stages Around The Country

Following the success of its world premiere commission at Park Square Theatre in 2016, NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN went on to a second production at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., one of the nation's top regional theatres last year.

This month, Regina Marie Williams, who originated the title role at Park Square, and in fact inspired the commission of the play, heads to Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre in Atlanta to star in a new production that will play September 25-Oct 21, 2018. While True Colors is a natural home for this dynamic play, which broke box office records for Park Square's Andy Boss Stage, there is also a strong link between the theatres through Jamil Jude, who was Park Square's Artistic Programming Associate during both Saint Paul runs of the play, and he is now Kenny Leon's Associate Artistic Director.

Williams shared her excitement for the role, "Sometimes Nina's voice would be warm and soothing, other times angry and harsh, and then light and sweet. Her voice, her music, made me feel." She added, "Over the years I have performed in musicals and plays, comedy and tragedy, Shakespeare and Wilson. The variety has been a gift and will be an asset when working to access the brilliance, the vulnerability, the self-righteousness, the humanity, and the Goddess in Nina."

The play is gaining speed around the country with upcoming productions at Northlight Theatre outside of Chicago, Actor's Theatre of Charlotte, NC and The Black Rep in St. Louis. Its writer, local artist Christina Ham, is enjoying a banner year. She is a Core Writer at the Playwrights' Center, and the Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence at Pillsbury House Theatre and a writer on the Netflix horror series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.