BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY VOICE
by Apphia Campbell (US & Scotland)
Friday, June 6 at 7pm
Sunday June 8 at 2pm
75 min / Ages 12+
Performances of Black is the Color of my Voice will be at Theater Wit
1229 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Contact: (773) 975-8150
See Theater Wit's Health and Safety Guidelines
Winner: Best Theatre Award, Adelaide Fringe 2024
‘Moving portrayal of determination and survival.’ ★★★★ Times
‘Nothing short of sensational… will make you cheer for her, smile with her and then sting your eyes with tears’ ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
‘A compelling and heartbreaking story, punctuated with bursts of song.’ ★★★★ Edinburgh Festival Magazine
★★★★ A lyrical gift’ - Sydney Theatre
Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live.
Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.
The show has toured the UK and Australia to standing ovations and played sell-out seasons in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh and the West End of London.
Apphia Campbell is originally from United States and graduated from Florida International University with a BFA in theatre performance. She was the IASH playwrighting fellow for 2021. Apphia wrote Black Is The Color Of My Voice in 2013. In 2017 her show with Meredith Yarbrough, Woke, was presented as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase, where it won a Scotsman Fringe First, a Highly Commended from Amnesty International Award, and was shortlisted for The Filipa Bragança Award and Scottish Art Club Theatre Award.
In 2019, she made her West End debut with Black Is The Color Of My Voice at Trafalgar Studios and had a London premiere of Woke at Battersea Arts Centre. Her first commission from the BBC for a children’s story, called Zachary The Zebroidaired in 2020 and she also wrote Birdie’s Dilemma for Scenes for Survival (BBC in collaboration with NTS Scotland). She was one of six writers who wrote for the National Theatre of Scotland’s Christmas show Rapunzel.
Credits include: The Last Bordello (David Leddy, Director) Woke (Caitlin Skinner, Director), Black Is The Color Of My Voice (Arran Hawkins, Director), The Color Purple (James Harkness, Director), Soul Sessions (Cabaret), and No Exit (Michael Beets, Director).
Workshop Offering:
June 7 10am-1pm
★★★★★ ‘Captivates the audience throughout.’ -The Skinny
★★★★★ ‘Utterly mesmerising... powerful and timely.’ -Musical Theatre Review
★★★★ ‘A show that should be seen, with music and messages that deserve to be heard.’ -British Theatre Guide
“Performed with tenderness, strength and absolute mastery” - All Edinburgh Theatre
★★★★★ ‘Never have I seen an audience so captivated as when Apphia Campbell took the stage. If I could give Black is the Color of my Voice ten stars, I would... Exquisite.’ - Voice
★★★★★ ‘A mesmerising performance ...nothing short of perfection.’ -The Student
★★★★★ ‘Wonderful piece of writing.’ North West End UK
★★★★★ ‘A resonant performance from an exceptional talent... dazzling exploration of the life and times of Nina Simone.’ -Broadway Baby 2022
★★★★‘Apphia Campbell is an incredible performer and gives a magnetic performance.’ One4Review
★★★★★ ‘Hauntingly beautiful’ -Theatre Weekly
WINNER Best Play -Theatre Weekly's Best of the Fest 2023
★★★★★ ‘Masterfully executed, adding power to the gripping narrative’ -Theatre & Tonic
‘A soul-stirring experience... mesmerising’ -Beyond the Encore
'Captivating... stunning’ -Theatre Travels Adelaide
★★★★★ ‘A tour de force performance’ -Weekend Notes Adelaide
‘A performance of remarkable range, skill and passion’ - Sussex World
★★★★★ ‘A well crafted and brilliantly executed show’‘It would be difficult to find a better one-woman show than this’ -StageTalk Magazine
★★★★★ ‘Masterpiece... intense and intimate, and thoroughly recommended' - Morning Star
★★★★★ 'Vibrant, poignant and full of soul' -A Young(ish) Perspective
