East Orange actress, singer, dancer is ready for the challenge of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls...

The signature line of Dana Hawkins email clearly states the motto she lives by, for everyone to see each and every time she writes to them - "Passion is born when you catch a glimpse of your true potential." This quote by writer Fred Smith speaks to the dedication and hard work that can be poured into a career or hobby, when a person discovers something that they love, at which they also excel. For Dana, that passion is theatre.

This singer, actress and dancer is combining her natural talents with practice. Her resume spells out the classes in acting, musical theatre, voice and dance - including with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and as an intern at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She is now appearing in 4th Wall Theatre's upcoming production of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf. The show is being presented as a staged reading at the Westminster Arts Center at Bloomfield College on February 16 and 17 at 7:30 pm.

for colored girls…is a stirring “choreopoem” which weaves together 20 separate poems with music, movement and narratives to tell the stories of love, empowerment, and struggle and loss in a complex representation of sisterhood. The cast consists of seven nameless African-American women only identified by the colors they are assigned. Dana is the Lady in Green.

When asked what attracts her to the piece, she explains, “It’s simply the bond the women, the sisters share in their stories. I can actually personally relate to one of the poems I perform-- “somebody almost walked off with all of my stuff. Luckily, I got mine back” she finishes with her trademark smile.

Hawkins is excited for audiences to see the show. “I am so excited for the audience to see the truth of these women. What we go through and how we feel when we go through it. Sometimes it’s hard for women, especially black women, to share their truth because we are used to or "trained" to just keep on moving. What for colored girls… makes clear, is that just because we press on, that doesn't mean we don't hurt.”

She is next scheduled to choreograph the musical Sister Act for interACT Theatre Productions.

The cast of for colored girls… includes Lauren Pope Forbes Mimi B. Francis, Samille Ganges, Nicolette Lynch Lynette Sheard and Deirdra Hooker. The show is directed by Gwen Ricks-Spencer, 4th Wall founding member, and current Executive Director.

More information, is available at www.4thwalltheatre.org. Tickets are only $15 and can be purchased online or reserved at 973-996-8484.

Photo courtesy of Tom Schopper