Church Girl

November 16, 2010 — November 21, 2010 at Beacon Theatre

About the Show

Urban theatre enthusiasts around the country are all abuzz about the highly anticipated debut of Church Girl. This no-holds barred musical stage play, based on true stories, was written and produced by Angela Barrow-Dunlap and directed by Reuben Yabuku. The play runs November 16 - 21 (8 performances) at the Beacon Theatre.

Church Girl tells the story of Emily Franklin, the seemingly wholesome daughter of a prominent pastor, who is seduced by the charms of a worldly life. Emily is hiding a very shocking secret and like all things evil, it is festering. Emily has been working diligently to cover up the dark choices she has made, but when her secret is exposed, events take a dramatic turn and skeletons coming crashing out of her closet. Everyone wants to know what could push a quintessential church girl to turn her back on everything she has been taught.

This uplifting new musical drama features soul-stirring gospel music, while it bravely peeks into a part of the entertainment world that has been, until now, considered taboo. Church Girl infuses the magic of phenomenal music, a cast of colorful characters, and amazing dance performances to take audiences on an unforgettable ride through the pains and pleasures of tasting the "forbidden fruit" to the ultimate height of redemption.

National playwright and producer Angela Barrow-Dunlap is the creator of many hit stage plays. One of her most popular, If These Hips Could Talk, starred legendary actor Billy Dee Williams and Tichina Arnold from the hit sitcom, Martin. Barrow-Dunlap also wrote and produced Zeola Gaye's dramatic musical My Brother Marvin as well as one of the highest grossing urban stage plays of all time, Why Good Girls Like Bad Boyz.

"This is much more than just another production to me," says Barrow-Dunlap. "There is power and purpose in this piece, mainly because it was born out of the true story of someone very dear and close to me. But also because it will touch the hearts of so many hurting women. Women around the country are responding to the message of Church Girl because it resonates so powerfully within them--it's their story. Most every woman has at some point in her life given in to temptation, and as a result felt trapped. Church Girl simply says that you can choose to be free."

The cast includes Sean Blakemore, Angela Winbush, Karen Clark Sheard, Demetria McKinney and Drew Sidora.