Beginning October 19, New York Times bestselling author and playwright LaDarrion Williams, and director Jessica E. Williams will bring “Coco Queens” to the Outside In Theatre Artspace in Highland Park at 5317 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042.
Taking place in 1975 Alabama, the play centers four Black women who come together each year inside Gloria’s beauty shop for a divine weekend of music, laughter, sisterhood and truth-telling. The production also comes five weeks after the Sept. 15 release of “Ashes at the Altar,” the final installment in LaDarrion’s bestselling “Blood at the Root” trilogy.
“At the top of the script, I wrote that Coco Queens must always be directed by a Black woman. Not doing so dishonors the play. We’re shaking things up in the LA theater community—a Black renaissance. With Hollywood crumbling, we’re going back to the source: theater, telling stories for us and by us in the most unapologetic way,” said LaDarrion.
He continued, “I want audiences to feel like they’re in a beauty shop—you hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. Every crown has a story, and “Coco Queens” opens the door to conversations we’re often afraid to have, especially in the Black community. You’ll leave carrying a little less than what you came in with.”
The production features a cast led by Julanne Chidi Hill playing Gloria Carmichael, alongside Mldred Marie Langford as Chanel Hudson, Chanell Copeland as Tammie Faye Allen, and Sierra Nicolette Smith as Dawn Lyons. In addition to her acting role, Langford serves as a co-producer for the show.
Coco Queens was featured in the 2019 Sundance Institute Playwriting Intensive, won the NewWorks@TheWorks Playwriting Award and received its world premiere at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis in July 2024. The Los Angeles production is co-produced by Blackgical
Productions and Outside In Theatre, with Jessie Patterson serving as creative consultant.
One of the lead actresses and star who plays the lead role of Gloria Carmichael, Julanne Chidi Hill, reflects on working with her three other costars. “I’m truly, truly, truly blessed. It’s surreal. Mildred and I have worked together several times, so she’s like a little sister to me and an artist I respect beyond measure. Getting to know Sierra and Chanel, we realized those six degrees of separation are really one. To feel 100% safe and really focus on the work together is a gem—you don’t always have that in spaces that aren’t all sisters and all Black sisters.”
She further added, “Every day I’m just grateful. Theater is my soul work, and with Coco Queens I’m ready to bear my soul. It feels like a movement, and I’m honored to be part of it.”
Director, Jessica E. Williams discussed the creative process and bringing the story to life, directly from the pages of LaDarrion’s work. “I really want to be true to the beauty and southern charm of Helena, Alabama. It’s a really beautiful small town and has shaped so much of who he is as a person.”
She continued, “We’re doing what we can in terms of having incredible designers, crafts and people around this, bringing our own flair and style to the beauty of creating something Black people are very familiar with, especially Black women who get our hair done. We’re trying to do our best to honor the Southern roots while also giving it some cool LA flair.”
She continued,”Give it a chance if you’ve never seen a play before. Come on down and experience some really cool people in a beautiful space… experience a story that we hope will transform and change you from the inside out.” she said.
Tickets are on sale at outsideintheatre.org/coco-queens.
