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An oasis for those who love classic stories. Los Angeles Times

Toni Morrison’s

The Bluest Eye

August 27–September 24, 2023
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The Bluest Eye

Adapted by Lydia R. Diamond
From the Novel By Toni Morrison

Directed by Andi Chapman

August 27–September 24, 2023

Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl in 1940’s Ohio, wants nothing more than to be loved and prays for Shirley Temple’s blue eyes. Enthralling, gorgeously written, and incredibly heartrending, this stunning adaptation of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison’s debut novel centers three young Black girls as they strive to make sense of love, sisterhood, abuse, and hate.

Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes without an intermission
Content Advisory: Recommended for mature audiences ages 14 and up.
This production will use strobe lights and haze.

“UNFLINCHING WISDOM… summon[s] the essence of the novel to powerful life onstage.”
-Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times

“EVOCATIVE… ACCOMPLISHED… Neither the passage of time nor the ongoing attempts to erase Morrison’s voice have dulled its purifying blaze… what you will witness will forever change your way of seeing.”
-Victoria Thomas, Local News Pasadena

“AN ASTOUNDING WORK OF ART… If you want to see theatre at its finest with all the cylinders firing, do not hesitate and go watch The Bluest Eye immediately.”
-Edward Hong, The Nerds of Color

“RHYTHM AND REPETITION, MOVEMENT AND MUSIC… The poetry and power of the Morrison novel come alive onstage in this seminal and deeply affecting work.”
-Laura Foti Cohen, Larchmont Buzz

“DARK AND STIRRING… rich with deeply moving narrative.”
-Eddie Rivera, Pasadena Now

“PITCH-PERFECT… a peerless cast… painfully exposes the poisonous effects of systemic racism and the heartbreak of shame, all the while retaining the distinctively rich and lyrical language of Morrison’s novel…. Few theatergoers will leave untouched by this courageous little miracle.”
-Eric Gordon, People’s World

Read more reviews.
The Bluest Eye Production Photos
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Cast of The Bluest Eye. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Akilah A. Walker and Julanne Chidi Hill. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Julanne Chidi Hill, Crystal Jackson, and Alexandra Metz. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Kacie Rogers, Akilah A. Walker, and Mildred Marie Langford. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Cast of The Bluest Eye. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Akilah A. Walker. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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Additional Reading

Why I Had to Adapt The Bluest Eye

Miranda Johnson-Haddad on Censorship–Banned Books Thought Piece

artists + cast

The Artists

Cast

§ The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

† Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829 of the IATSE

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

ANW Resident Artist

The Bluest Eye contains descriptions of sexual violence and domestic/child abuse. If you or anyone you know is impacted by these issues, please consider the resources below.

National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours – 1-800-656-4673
https://www.rainn.org/resources

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service
1-800-799-7233
https://www.thehotline.org

Header photo by Daniel Reichert. Pictured: Akilah A. Walker.