Dark Side of the Moon by Charisse Brown was birthed from her master’s thesis project for New York University. Now reimagined, Ms. Brown is working with Studio Theater in Exile to develop a one woman show that examines the effects of generational trauma connected to colorism and the keeping of secrets within the black family.
“If you’re yellow you’re mellow, if you’re white you’re right, and if you’re black get back” was the mantra Lena heard from her mother. And that was her - Lena, the “dark” child, is rejected by her mother and shunted from auntie to auntie, while her lighter skinned siblings’ are nurtured at home. Black in the Box was influenced by hushed stories told by Ms. Brown’s “aunties” and collected by an eavesdropping child.
