for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf was first staged in 1974 in a woman's bar, and two years later became nationally known when it was produced on Broadway at the Booth Theatre. It is a choreopoem - a work written in poetic form but performed by an ensemble onstage - written by Ntozake Shange. It is a blend of narrative, poetry, and dancing performed by seven women and it explores themes of sexism, racism, and poverty.
It is performed very simply, without props and with minimal scenery. It ranges from darkly funny, including a scene where the seven women exchange apologies received from their boyfriends and husbands, to heartbreaking, with a narrative in which a woman describes the killing of her children by their father.
The cast is simple: Lady in Brown, Lady in Yellow, Lady in Purple, Lady in Red, Lady in Green, Lady in Blue, and Lady in Orange. The characters are all nameless to emphasize the idea that universal experience is being explored - while the stories themselves are highly individual, the intent of the piece is to draw the viewer's attention to the spectrum (hence the rainbow motif) of experiences that befall black women.
Despite the darkness of the material explored, the tone of the piece is one of positivity, growth, self-sufficiency, and beauty amidst sadness. for colored girls is very much accessible to anyone, no matter their own life - the writing and the stories are accessible no matter the experiences of the viewer. It is inspirational and moving, and its message may be summed up in its last line: "i found god in myself & i loved her fiercely." | 
