Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (Los Angeles, CA)
One of the most produced musicals in America, Crowns explores the lives of the "hat queens," six women in the South whose stories of love, loss, identity and sisterhood are woven into the hats that crown their heads and the songs that speak their truth. Based on an acclaimed book, Crowns captures the thrill of self-expression with a series of intimate musical portraits.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Crowns was Saturday July 4, 2009 / 2:00pm. (view all dates)
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It was toooooooooooooo long!!! My Goldstar seats were front row so I couldn't escape! The performance was just mediocre and did I mention that it was far too long?
This was one of the best productions I have seen to date. The singing was superb and moving and it was hard for me to stay seated and not want to get up and praise the Lord with the wonderful gospel music. I have recommended this play to all my friends and would go again in a drop of a hat! Don't even get me started on the hats worn in this production!! See it for yourself and you will know what I mean.
This was my first time to this theater and must say I was very pleased. There is no bad seat in this theater at all.
Excellent play. Very entertaining. It is a bit long with no intermission but you hardly notice. There are no bad seats. The cast all have beautiful voices. I want to see it again!
Powerful and jubilant! A must see!
Amazing talent throughout. The cast didn't have a single weak link.
Loved the singing and the "crowns" (hats) and the stories the women told, but felt it was too long (esp without an intermission) at 2 hours. The theater is beautiful. Parking is easy. Go!
Its down home southern church singing - it's something new to me and I really liked it :)
This was a Fantastic Show! I can't believe it's not sold out for every single performance. Wonderful vocal performances and a wonderful ensemble cast! The staff at the Nate Holden Center were phenomenal. A Great Find!
I truly loved this event. The singing was electrifying, especially the solos, they gave me goosebumps! I brought my boyfriend who is from the south and he said the story was right on point about the importance of hats in that society. He said all the anecdotes were correct and he felt as if he had gone home for a couple of hours during this show. I know a show has done a good job with the themes it is trying to portray when people can relate to it so easily.
The performance itself was superb all around (acting and singing), with a few pretty famous actors in the ensemble. I honestly did not feel it was too long. I enjoyed every moment and felt like getting up and dancing myself!
The venue itself is quite beautiful and I look forward to seeing what more comes from it.
Wonderful! Great acting, and singing, with limited dancing : ). The characters really came to life, especially the male character. He was truly a crack up to me! I'd definitely go see it again!
The play was outstanding and given the chance I would see it again. The singing and acting was wonderful, I enjoyed the male character and the lady in "red" was a crack up. It was also a delight to see the well seasoned actresses perform.
This play was wonderful. It draws you into the life each character one by one. It also takes you to church with your Crown on!
I grew up in the south... typical white southern male with forward thinking parents. My mother was visiting here in LA for the first time in her life. I took her to this show... the only one I took her to in LA. After the show, mom said, "I have been to a fantastic performance and to church at the same time! Thanks."
The music was incredibly well done. The band is fantastic, the vocalists are very experienced. The acting was about 95%: Man is great!
I did NOT think it was too long. I was engaged the whole time.
This play is a celebration of rich culture that weaves through the southern United States all the way back to Africa. Wonderful. My favorite line from the play, "Our Crowns have already been paid for, all we have to do is wear them!"
I liked this event and was glad to see it.
A few first night bugs, but otherwise very enjoyable with a very talented cast. One male and he almost steals the show. Excellent band. Highly recommend.
It was a heart inspiring, toe-tapping, and energetic, funny and creative. I laughed, cried, and even found myself holding my breath at times. I would recommend Crowns to any and everyone.
It would be especially great for mothers and daugters, grandmothers and granddaughers to spend time together enjoying Crowns and each other.
I give it a 10+
I thought it was magnificent!! Sure there's no intermission, but they tell you that before you sit down! The singing was wonderful, the acting was wonderful! The 3 piece orchestra was exquisite! I'm a professional musician and I was moved in so many different ways! I would recommend it to everyone! It would've been a real loss not to see this production! GO, GO, GO!!!!
The Nate Holden Performing Arts Center is a great venue to see any production. This one was full of energy and talent. All the performers were exceptional. The set was well done, the choreography was done with ease. A night well worth any price of admission! Bravo to all involved.
I really enjoyed every aspect of my experience at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, from the resturant to the show.
I read some reviews previously about it being too long but it wasn't. I thought it was well proportionate to the story that was being told. The actor and actessess were very knowledgeable and prepared for their roles and the singing was great. I can't wait until the next show that I attend by being a member of Gold Star.
This was an extraordinary production of Crowns. Israel Hick's moving direction added tremendously to Regina Taylor's script which is in essence a series of monologues. Hicks connected the pieces on a deeply emotional level with careful staging, stylized movement, and culturally significant music and nuances. At an hour and forty minutes, it may seem long to someone waiting for an intermission, but Crowns is a one act show, and patrons are advised of that before entering the theater. All of the cast members sparkled and the 'Jumping the Broom' scene featuring Paula Kelly and Clinton Derricks-Carroll in slow motion was worth the price of admission.
Wonderful performance.
My group and I enjoyed the play. It dragged a little in places, but for the most part it was a very good production. All of the actors did a wonderful job. The story was enlightening and inspiring, especially on a Sunday (church day). It was an affirming message. I will definitely recommend it to others.
I had a great time. The cast was wonderful and very talented. I took my grandma and she really enjoyed it. The seats were great too.
This was a delightful show, full of talent, emotion, humor & gorgeous hats to drool over. The singing was great & solos were fantastic, especially one in particular from character "Velma" - blew everyone away! Beautiful theatre; every seat is good. Great musicians also!
VERY ENTERTAINING AND THE TIME FLEW FAIRLY QUICKLY!!!
The performances,music and voices of this production was great! It was wonderful to Paula Kelley again.
The music of Eric Reed was awesome as usual.
I was impressed to share this events with friends and I would see it again.
The NHPAC is a beautful venue with comfortable seats and a friendly, pleasant staff.
6/15/09
THe event was a gospel special tribute to Black women and their hats. The hats were fabulous. My friend and I bought hats after the show..The purchase benefits the center. Great Girls night out.
Great show! Great actors and great staging. Very entertaining and substantive. Loved it! This would be a great church outing for people of all ages, including the youth.
Excellent! Love the location. I will attend future events.
I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Seats were great and comfortable and althought there were no intermissions did feel the need for one. Sound system could have been more effective when performers were towards the back via the front of the stage. Look forward to attendng an other performance of the Ebony company and at the Nate Holden theater.
This is a must see event! The performers were fabulous, the music excellent and the venue is great, all seats are good.
this was a very fun afternoon. our seats were in the second row, which was a bit too close for my taste, but we got used to it and didn't let it interfere with our enjoyment. sound was uneven at times though. it's a very wonderful play with fabulous performances. overall, i would highly recommend the play!! the venue is first-rate as well.
The production of Crowns was wonderful! I had seen the Crowns art exhibit in Atlanta a few years ago and to see a musical production of the same was a reinforcing experience. The performers were excellent, including the musicians. The theatre was very comfortable and the seats were excellent. It was great to be able to support the arts in the community and I look forward to many other events at this venue in the future.
I really enjoyed this play. I want to see it again. It was funny, moving and very enjoyable.
A huge thanks to Ebony Repertory Theatre for bringing this uplifting production of Crowns to us. It was a joy to watch six beautiful talented women and one handsome gifted man perform. To all L.A. don’t miss seeing this outstanding portrait of our history.
I really enjoyed this play. the actors were great, the story line great, the facilities were great. What a pleasant little theater in the heart of the city.
This will be my second time ithin 9 days seeing this wonderful musical. I invited friends and they all loved Crowns.We are also deighted by this beautiful theatre within our community. Thanks Goldstar for great seats and deals !
Enjoyed the talented cast and the way the story unfolded. Being reminded of a rich history is always inspiring. The intimacy of the theater was very nice. Thank you to the artists and staff. I look forward to more performances at ERT.
This was a wonderful musical production. The music was moving. All the characters never missed a beat delivering their dialogues and solos. A very enjoyable evening.
I truly enjoyed this presentation of Crowns. The actors were great and the singing was inspirational. It reminded me of the "good old days" when women of color ALWAYS wore crowns to church. Thank you so very much and I look forward to more events like this.
It was a great afternoon of entertainment. We also had excellent seats.
Exuberant and delightful. Great cast who delivered a serious message with a bit of humor. This is well worth seeing.
Wonderful uplifting, joyous musical production. Left feeling good.
This was FABULOUS!!! The actors enthralling! The music was toe-tapping!! The story made you cry...laugh...and sing out loud a hearty "Amen!!" I L-O-V-E-D it!!!
Why this play isn't presented to a sold out house every night is beyond me! It was wonderful and so moving that the actresses actually cried during some of their songs. I got a little teary eyed myself; don't hesitate to go see this play. You won't regret it.
Great show! Great cast...all around great experience!!!!!!!!!
What a wonderful experience. The music was delightful and the acting and dancing were superb...I would see this play again.
It deserves more than 4 stars. Really well done and made the group I was with laugh and cry and want to see it again. Had never been to the venue before and was really impressed by the space.
This show is one of the most delightful musicals I have ever seen. Although it was quite humorous, it told a good story with a sweet dose of good old black church religion.
I would rate this gospel musical a 4. It was entertaining and informative. At first I was concerned that there was no intermission during the 2 hour performance but I found that I did not notice the time because of the great performance by each of the women.
Don't let this play leave the city without seeing it!
I loved this rich,inspirational and delightful show!!! The cast was fantastic! The great and talented Paula Kelly is breathtaking beautifuland so talented. The Band was fantastic. My group of friends laughed, cried,sang along and just really enjoyed the show. Our seats were great and the venue is lovely. The hats of course were gorgeous some are also for sale in the lobby.
Wear your "Crowns' and attend this play before it leaves. I am going again in mine!!
The show was fantastic and the singing was wonderful, I plan to come again and bring my mother.
It was incredible! Made me want to revisit my Baptist roots. (Though, I've had my fill of 'organized religion', I still can't get enough of Gospel Music.)
There are a few performances left, and I would encourage all in need of rekindled Spirit, to get your tickets. Very family-friendly; many mult-generational families in attendance.
This is a real gem. The caliber of performers is really high. Having seen productions at many places, this cast could be on Broadway or at the Music Center. I felt it got better as it went along. I'm really glad I attended and would recommend.
Great play. The music had me singing along.
well performed, all the cast executed their part with vigor
recommendable.....if you are not a church goer, you'll still like the play.
the music pumps.
I enjoyed the show very much. The music and the singing was great. The venue was very nice.
This play gave insight into the soul & history of the tradition of crowns in the black community.
What a wonderful emsemble of actors!!!! The musical itself is a masterpiece...production masterful. This is half the battle. When you add the perfect combination of players it is absolute magic. I so enjoy live performance but last night was above my expectations as a spectator. A must see.
CROWNS is a wonderful show! Thank you Regina Taylor for such amazing writing. And thank you Paula Kelly for coming out of retirement. Please "don't" go back in. The stage is where you belong. You are breathtaking!
I thought it was fabulous/outstanding. Regina Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway and the entire cast were faces I recognized from TV. It was great seeing them in person. I did not know these ladies could sing. They are very talented. Two of the older women, that I thought had stopped acting did a great job. I had front row seats (from Goldstar) and sat next to Jackee' (of 227 and Sister Sister). She is beautiful. I also saw other famous actors in the audience. I just love how they support each other. I also saw cast members from Gem of the Ocean, a play by August Wilson. I got tickets for that play from GoldStar.I see that I can share a photo. Next time I will take pictures! There is a little resturant just west of the theatre on the north side of the street, that sale soul food on the weekends. We ate there before the show and the food was great.
The beginning was painfully slow to take off. I was expecting more music...although the music and voices were great -- it just needed more. So that was disappointing. The actors were talented and did what they could with the material they had. I think the show has potential but it needs reworking.
Having only one male actor makes it more of a girls night out show. I won't recommend it at this point. Hope it makes some changes before it goes on to the Pasadena Playhouse.
This was an excellent play. Top cast members. And as always Vanessa Bell Armstrong was great. I had not seen Paula Kelly in years. She was a excellent and compassionate dancer. She was great. Everyone in the play received a standing ovation. The play had great messages about hats. Their beauty and meaning. Especially, when worn to church. Great singing. I could see it again.
I truely enjoyed this Gospel Musical Crowns. This was my 2nd time seeing it. I had to come back and bring my daughter. My daughter is handicap and the seats were perfect.
Thank you,
Twila
The show was fabulous. The time flew by. Our group included by 1 year old grandson and my 86 year old mother. We laughed, we got teary and clapped and tapped our toes. A great evening in the theatre. By the way, if you bring a babe in arms, they will seat you in the balcony. (There wasn't a peep out of him, except for some giggles and clapping along.)
Don't miss this one. It moves this week to Pasadena Playhouse.
This was a great event. It brought back a lot of memories of when I attended church as a child.
The show was excellent and first rate. The acting and singing was top notch. Good to see Paula Kelly again.The musicians were superb, especially the pianist. Play was well written, clever and interesting. Would recommend this.
My group of five joined with the rest of the audience in a standing ovation. I especially appreciated how the one man in the cast easily transitioned from one role to another. Sometimes I was disappointed when they did not sing the song that I anticipated from the program or background music, but the performance overall was good. An intermission would have helped also. Just remember to "go" before you sit down. The hats were beautiful.
This is a must see! The story is one that we all recognize - the coming of age of a young person. Although there was no intermission, I became totally absorbed in the story. This tale bears witness to the evolution of African-American culture and habits that most of us take for granted.
Great show. I would recommend this show. Everyone was very talented!
Great seats!! Wonderful uplifiting music. The constumes, hats, and staging were beautiful. Second time attending the play, had to return to take my mother and aunt. They also enjoyed Crowns tremendously and said they loved the historical background provided. Truly enjoyable.
The show was very interesting, the cast great and the Nat Holden Center is a hidden gem in the city. Anything the Ebony Rep puts together would be woth seeing, very high quality actors.
I liked it! The venue, show and cast were all outstanding. Go!
I enjoyed the play. The story was good along with the singing. The venue is an intimate place which made it very nice!.
A lovely "woman empowering" evening! Beautiful hats, beautiful voices, beautiful music and beautiful stories!
Great performance! The music was impressive and the stories were heart felt. I do agree that the production was a little too long, but that may have been because there was no intermission. Overall, I would recommend this performance!
The performance was okay but not up to par with other 3 star events I've attended. (This is more a 2 1/2 star event).
Great, naming the type of crowns worn during the play, would have enhanced the performance.
Tips are provided by Goldstar members and Ebony Repertory Theatre. Goldstar is not responsible for their content or accuracy.
The Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (NHPAC) is a multi-use complex comprised of a theatre, a rehearsal hall/studio, an open air lobby complete with a box office and concession area, and two undeveloped retail areas. Perfect for performances, festivals, screenings, meetings, rehearsals and receptions, the NHPAC can accommodate your event planning needs.
<p>Ebony Repertory Theatre is proud to announce casting for the Los Angeles premiere of Crowns, by actress Regina Taylor (CBS’ “The Unit”) adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Debuting as a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse, the landmark production will star Emmy nominee Paula Kelly, Suzzanne Douglas, Ann Weldon, Sharon Catherine Blanks, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Angela Wildflower Polk and Clinton Derricks-Carroll, with direction by Ebony Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Israel Hicks.
The show will feature choreography by Keith Young, scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr., costume design by Dana Woods, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu, sound design by Cricket S. Myers, music direction by Eric Scott Reed. The production stage manager is Gwendolyn M. Gilliam.</p>