2016 - Jersey City Theater Center
“In Full Color” returned on March 17, 18 and 20, 2016, for its second season with 16 more women of color sharing their stories. This year, the show went national with writers from as far as California, Maryland and South Carolina. “In Full Color” sold out all three nights at Merseles Studios in Jersey City, N.J. (a devastating flood forced the venue change) and continued to spark conversations about diversity, prejudice, cultural exchange, mixed race identity and other important topics. This year featured poignant and hilarious pieces about everything from the double-edged sword of Indian domesticity and the perseverance of Latina sexuality to exactly what matters about Black lives.
THE LINEUP
“Latinoamericana” by Alicia Rivas
Alicia has a Bachelor’s in Theatre from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She originated the role of Sara in “Henry’s Law: A Play About Bullying.” She’s also performed at Luna Stage as Mercy in “Mercy and the Firefly” and as the female narrator in “Mi Casa Tu Casa” at Dreamcatchers Repertory Theatre.
“Some Men Just Don’t Know” by Nina Ki
Performed by Chau Sa Hoang
Nina graduated from NYU with a BFA in Dramatic Writing. She is the co-founder of Pearl Girls Productions and a producer and writer for a queer Asian-American webseries called “That’s What She Said.” Her plays have been read and produced in theaters and festivals across North America.
Chau Sa is a New York-based actress currently studying under Karl Bury. She has also studied at the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, the Upright Citizens Brigade and under Larry Moss, Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad. This is her second time performing a monologue for the Jersey City community.
“To My Rolling Pin” by Nidhi Thakur
Nidhi came to the U.S. from India to study Economics. She taught at Barnard College, Columbia University, before becoming a full-time mother–and also a chef, a magician, a teacher, a nurse, a wife and so much more. She believes this life is totally worth writing about, and writing for.
“Ailments” by Adelyne Dan Dan Liu
Adelyne grew up in NYC. After studying theater at Binghamton University, she moved to L.A. and worked on a number of independent films including “Swelter,” “Fear Lives Here,” and “Yes, Yesterday.” Finding L.A. to be unbearably sunny, she recently returned to NYC and continues to act and write.
“Desirable” by Dianne Diep
Dianne is a Neighborhood Playhouse graduate. Credits include “Romeo and Juliet” (Nurse), “The Tragedy of Dandelion” (various), Durrenmatt’s “The Physicists,” Principal on Oxygen Network’s “My Crazy Love,” Columbia MFA shorts “Last Words,” “Smoke Circle” and “Dating Service” (IndieFEST Awards). Next: Three Writopia-produced short films written by teens.
“He Didn’t Want Me” by Courtney Wheeler
Courtney tries not to take writing too seriously, instead discussing race, body image and feminism through humor. She saves her “serious” energy for her future coffee table book on Kanye West and her marriage proposal to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“Pocahontas” by Liliane Wolf
Liliane is the co-founder of 68 Productions, a Jersey City-based theater company. An alumna of the Jersey City Arts High School and the Governor’s School of the Arts, she made her Off-Broadway debut with “Things Fall (Meanwhile)” and “Conspicuous.” See her on IG @LilianeWolf.
“Black. Belly. Box.” by Tuere T. S. Ganges
Performed by Samille Ganges
Tuere, a South Jersey native, writes in Baltimore, Maryland. Her fiction has won prizes at the Philadelphia Writers Conference; and has appeared in the Wigleaf, Fiction Circus and Referential Magazine. Wilted and Other Stories, her collection of short fiction, is available on Amazon.com.
Samille is a Musical Theatre graduate from New Jersey City University. Recent credits: “The Vagina Monologues,” “Madame Infamy,” “The Old Maid and the Thief” and “Once on this Island.” Her ongoing role as Mommy to Harper is the biggest gift. She thanks Summer, Desmond, Mommy and the Good Lord!
“Shades of Fucking Grey” by Grisel Y. Acosta
Performed by Paola “Pie” Soto
Grisel, a Chicago transplant, is currently an assistant professor at Bronx Community College—CUNY. She’s published widely, but recent works are in Love You Madly: Poetry About Jazz, the forthcoming Basta!: 100 Latinas Write on Violence Against Women and at the Reproductive Freedom Festival Monologue Series in NYC.
Paola was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in NYC. Credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antigone, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Raksha’s Child, PBS documentary “Don’t See My Bones and Think I’m Dead.” Writing credits: Tainted Lives, Quisqueya Heights. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from CCNY, where she won the Jacob Weiser Playwriting Award.
“Flay” by Taylor Yates
Taylor is the founder and editor-in-chief of Selfish, a women’s mostly memoir magazine. Following a cross-country tour for their second issue, “Just One More,” Taylor is currently enduring a Brooklyn winter while wondering how she left idyllic Los Angeles behind.
“Lucky” by Nancy Méndez-Booth
Nancy writes fiction and teaches. Her work has been seen in Latina, Poets & Writers and Salon and at the Cornelia Street Cafe and The Moth. She’s currently looking to publish a fiction manuscript and is working on a second. Nuyorican by birth, Nancy is currently based in New Jersey.
“Play Dead” by Clinnesha D. Sibley
Performed by Judith Moss
Clinnesha strives to advance social consciousness through her writing, teaching and arts endeavoring. She received the Holland New Voices Award for her play “Tell Martha Not to Moan.” Her anthology, “King Me: Three Plays Inspired by the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” was published in 2013.
Judith is pleased to be performing this important piece which resonates for her, both as a woman of color and a lifelong AME church member. Thanks to Summer for asking and for always being a force in the Jersey City arts scene.
THE CREW
in alphabetical order
Kasandra Black (Music) is a singer and songwriter from the West Coast who writes personal, emotional lyrics for music with a sultry, yet vulnerable, neo-soul sound. She is currently working on a new EP. To see her upcoming shows and get a free download of “Renegade,” visit kasandrablack.com.
Tiffy “T-Cup” DiGiacomo (Artist) is a Nerf-gun-totin’, karaoke-singing visual artist. She paints by day, bartends by night and fights evil doers in her free time. When she is not fighting crime, she can be found reading at bars, playing with Legos or relaxing with her supporting, loving wife.
Christine Goodman (Producer) is thrilled to be working with this team of talented women to bring “In Full Color” to life once again. She is the Founder/Executive Director of Art House Productions. Recent credits: “The House of Atreus” (writer/producer), “Commit” (producer), “Something to Remember Me By” (writer, producer), “Murder on Ice” (writer, producer, costume design); “Constant Never” (writer, director, costume design); “Heavy Craft/Soft Landing” (director, development team). Training: New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts; Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London).
Daniel Guiducci (Photographer) is a Jersey City native who loves exploring the depths of the urban jungle armed with nothing but his curiosity and trusty camera. You may also know him as DJ Dan Joseph.
Summer Dawn (Director) got her start directing AHP’s first Emerging Artists in 2007, founded “In Full Color” last year and is thrilled to continue working with this amazing company to amplify the voices of talented women with compelling stories. She is the Co-Founder/Director of 68 Productions and was last seen at Merseles Studios performing her one-woman show “So What If I Loved You.”
Lance A. Michel (Lighting/Technical Director) has worked in theatre, dance, live music and live event production for over 20 years. Lance graduated from San Francisco State University’s Theatre Arts Department, with a Sound Design Degree, and an emphasis in Theatre Management.
Alicia Ruth (Set Designer) is a visual artist, science enthusiast, and passionate animal, environmental and human rights advocate. She is a the founder and executive director of TEDxJerseyCity, She Leads World, In Theory, and The Foundation for Wonderment and Awe. She is a believer in compassion, curiosity and a total capsaicin junkie.
Justin Woo (Videography) is a writer, performance poet, playwright, videographer, photographer, DJ, audio engineer, and actor. He doesn’t sleep much. He is a proud 10 year Jersey City resident. He is also the voice of the DinoTrux children’s audiobooks.
Special Thanks: Behnam Torrei, Jaime Jenkins and BGT Enterprises for their endless support; Ben LoPiccolo, Olga Levina, Diana Arinovich and Jersey City Theater Center for pulling us from the waters in our time of need; and LITM, located at 140 Newark Ave., for providing us with tasty eats and a venue for our cast party!
PRESS COVERAGE
Broadway World: Photo Flash: Sneak Peek – Art House Productions’ IN FULL COLOR Returns to the Stage
The Jersey Journal: ‘In Full Color’ returns to Jersey City for Women’s History Month
CHICpeaJC: Top Thirteen Things to Do in Jersey City (blog): Top Thirteen Things to Do in Jersey City
WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING
Chazz Jogie: “That was powerful.”
Bojana Coklyat: “I felt incredibly lucky to make ti to the Sunday performance. I had heard rave reviews and the performance lived up to everything I had heard. So proud to be a part of a community that supports these kinds of performances. Congratulations on such a successful show! By the way, was this recorded?”
Alicia Ruth: “In Full Color is continually one of the most powerful shows I’ve seen. To say it was moving and impactful would be a gross understatement. Thank you to everyone involved. I am already very much looking forward to next years show. Bravo ladies, you are amazing.”
Yvonne Vairma: “Another year, another incredible ensemble, ladies! Thank you for a touching, enlightening, and entertaining evening.”
Eileen Ramos: “I’m so happy and feel utterly blessed that I was able to witness you ladies perform your hearts on the stage. You made me laugh so hard, introspect my life, and move me beyond measure. I never saw a monologue be performed live and haven’t seen theater in I think years, but I’m so gratified that my first experience ever/in ages was your performance. This amazing, singular show. — You ladies make me want to write and dive deeper into my identity and confront the unsaid. You are ALL so remarkable and I hope to continue to see your words and performances for years to come! “