Meet Playwright Pearl Cleage

Playwright Pearl Cleage is a vital and enduring voice in American theater, celebrated for works that center Black women’s lives with honesty, humor, and unapologetic clarity. A writer of remarkable range, Cleage has built a career that spans plays, novels, essays, and journalism, all grounded in a deep commitment to storytelling that is both personal and political.

She is perhaps best known in theater for works such as Blues for an Alabama Sky and Flyin’ West, which have become staples of the American stage. Her writing blends lyrical language with sharp social insight, exploring themes of love, resilience, activism, and community. Cleage’s characters are richly drawn and fiercely intelligent, inviting audiences to engage with complex histories and contemporary realities alike.

Cleage’s artistic voice is deeply rooted in activism and community engagement, reflecting her lifelong commitment to social justice. Her work often illuminates the intersections of race, gender, and politics, shaped in part by her experiences within the Civil Rights and Black Arts movements. Through both her plays and prose, she challenges audiences to confront inequities while celebrating the strength and complexity of Black life, making her storytelling not only compelling but culturally essential.

Based in Atlanta, Cleage has long been an influential figure in both the arts and the broader cultural landscape. With a voice that is unmistakably her own, Pearl Cleage remains a defining force in contemporary American storytelling.

Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous

JUN 10 – JUL 12, 2026
GIL CATES THEATER

Written by Pearl Cleage
Directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Produced in Association with Black Rebirth Collective
Featuring Michele Shay, Olivia Washington, Deborah Joy Winans & Charlayne Woodard

Anna Campbell is a trailblazing actress flush with accolades but short on cash. After returning to the U.S. to stage a career-defining comeback, she collides with a new generation that challenges her past, her politics, and her place in the movement. Award-winning playwright Pearl Cleage (Blues for an Alabama Sky) teams up with Tony Award nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson (The Piano Lesson) to deliver a sharp-witted and soulful new comedy about art, activism, and aging on your own terms.

This production is made possible, in part, by support from Cast Iron Entertainment and the David Lee Foundation.

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