Thoughts of a Colored Man

LOVE – 18, college student. Poet by trade. Young in every sense of the word. He’s a sneaker head and dresses like the youth of now, he cares about his clothes. Shy in certain situations. Needs to be well versed with the language of poetry.
LUST – 20, retail worker. Heavy New York accent. Charming and naturally flirtatious. Purehearted. As carefree as he is reckless. His words are unrefined, and he has no filter. He is highly sexual and addicted to women and has enough confidence to go around.
ANGER – 25, youth coach/part-time barber. A former collegiate basketball player that is an academic in disguise. He carries a chip on his shoulder. Has a rawness to him. Must have the energy of SLAM poetry during poetic scenes.
DEPRESSION – 28–30, grocery store clerk. An astute survivor. A true neighborhood guy at heart. Highly intelligent and steady; equally comfortable in multiple different environments, can adapt to his surroundings, but at times he exposes himself to be socially awkward.
PASSION – 35, teacher. A scholar from the inner city. A seasoned guy who has seen a lot in his life and is very in tune with the world around him. He has an articulate but edgy presence. He possesses the spirit of ancestral orators. Must be rhythmically inclined and fluent with poetic verse.
HAPPINESS – Late 30s–early 40s, financial director. An upper-middle class man originally from the South. A man who happens to be gay, but his sexuality does not rule his life, nor does he wear it on his sleeve. He has a polished look and demeanor with Ivy League schooling. A dressed-down casual Brooks Brothers man. He’s externally unapologetic, but deeply caring internally.
WISDOM – 60–65, shop owner/entrepreneur. A man of dark complexion, African born. An immigrant to the United States. His accent has weakened over time. Heavy thinking man. Regal and confident, but equally humble. He has a calm presence and possesses a strength only age can bring.

All characters on stage together form the ensemble. All actors in this world are black in race, heritage, culture, and experience. The cast should be diverse in height, size, complexion, and hairstyle to fill as much of the spectrum as possible.

All characters on stage together form the ensemble. All actors in this world are black in race, heritage, culture, and experience. The cast should be diverse in height, size, complexion, and hairstyle to fill as much of the spectrum as possible.