Center Stage Trip: Thoughts of a Colored Man
The students returned to Baltimore Center Stage today for the second stage production of the year. Today the students saw the brand-new show Thoughts Of a Colored Man, which made its world debut at Baltimore Center Stage on October 10th. After the production, the student’s were able to get a behind-the-scenes look by asking the actors questions.
The play follows the thoughts and interactions of seven black men through the course of one day. Each character is named with an emotion/state of being- Anger, Depression, Happiness, Love, Lust, Passion, and Wisdom. In an interview with WBAL TV, playwright Keenan Scott II explained that he aims to build empathy and to “break down the stereotypes you might feel about them due to what you might have seen them be portrayed in the media, or tv and film”. He added that he wanted to use the piece to start conversations using a comfortable and safe place.
The students thought that Thoughts of Colored Man was thought-provoking. Sophomore Joshua said, “A lot of the stuff in the play I could relate to. I like how it actually showed people who don’t know what black boys go through and how they think.” Like the last play the students saw, Miss You Like Hell, this production did a wonderful job exposing the students to a narrative that is not common, or even can be misconstrued, in popular American media. We appreciate the opportunities provided by Center Stage for our students to engage in discussions about overcoming stereotypes.