Jackson Free Press

The newly created Sangha Theater Company performed "Shake Loose My Skin" at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center on March 11-13 as its inaugural production. Named for the collection of poetry by Sonia Sanchez, the montage of dance, drama and song celebrated the women poets who taught America what it was to be black, bold and beautiful.

Under the direction of Darius Williams, a Jackson State University speech and theater insructor, the cast dramatized poetry of artists from the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, the artistic counterpart of the Black Power Movement. In short ensemble pieces and monologues, the cast brought to life the work of artists like Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Beah Richards and others.

"I love the female poets of the Black Arts Movement," Williams said. "They have inspired me to write, and it is that poetry that we have forgotten. Today's poetry is lacking the intellectual substance that the poetry of that day had."

Williams said that he started the company because there is so little black theater in the state. "Mississippi, and Jackson especially, needs a professional black theater, and I have seen many talented actresses and actors here over the years ," he said. The mission of Sangha Theater company is to have a place "to cultivate the wealth of talent in Mississippi," he added. The name of the company means spiritual community.

The youngest cast member, LaJuanda Williams, says that she has been enriched in many ways by working with the company. "I know more about who I am as a black woman after having this experience," she said.

The production came together quickly.

"Darius and I were in 'Bubbling Brown Sugar' together at Jackson State in 1998," said Latongya Garner, "and when we saw each other again at the Sweet Honey (In The Rock) concert (in Jackson in February), he asked me to be a part of this new theater company he was starting, and I said I would."

Being a part of this production has helped her to "shed skin and find a new arena for creativity that I have not used before," said Garner, the production's songwriter and vocalist.

"She (Garner) had such clarity in her voice," said Theresa Kearns, an audience member. "The performance was riveting."

Using few props—a chair, a notebook, and simple costumes—the cast illuminated the art of the poets while displaying their range of talent.

Other members of the cast were Maxine Jackson, Chirvana Baker and Frances Horton White.

After Noahk Moore watched the performance Thursday night, he said: "I have seen none better than tonight's performance. The variety of women caught your eye, and the poetry stayed within the theme of the struggle."

Williams said that the difference between his theater company and others is that "they produce plays that seem to embrace black stereotypes. In our company we want to present quality, well-written plays, with fully fleshed characters that are not one dimensional."

The company will perform Susan Lori-Parks' "Top Dog Underdog" in April.