The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
by Kirsten Childs

Name: The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Brand: Kirsten Childs
SKU: 9780822218791
Rating: 3.45 (13 reviews)

Off-Broadway

The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin Cover

The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin Book Cover — The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin Cover

Highlights

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Large Cast

Female

Male

90 mins1990sRole(s) for Black Actor(s)Ensemble CastExpandable CastingFlexible Cast SizeStrong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsPeriod CostumesAmerican Black History

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the creative storytelling in this play, highlighting its exploration of deep sociological issues. However, some feel that the ending leaves a bit to be desired, wishing for more emotional depth in the character's journey.

Creative storytellingDeep sociological issuesEnding feels rushed

Synopsis

What's a black girl from sunny Southern California to do?

White people are blowing up black girls in Birmingham churches.

Black people are shouting "Black is beautiful" while straightening their hair and coveting light skin.

Viveca Stanton's answer: Slap on a bubbly smile and be as white as you can be!

In a humorous and pointed coming-of-age story spanning the sixties through the nineties, Viveca blithely sails through the confusing worlds of racism, sexism and Broadway showbiz until she's forced to face the devastating effect self-denial has had on her life.

Press Reviews

"The play opens with an explosion of music… Accessible and enjoyable to people of all races and genders… The bubbly mixture of humor and pathos makes for an entertaining – but not feather-weight – show."
— Pioneer Press

"Soul-baring, passionate musical… Childs’ ruminations speak with wisdom and resonance not only to African-American audiences that share her experience and reference, but to any sensitive soul who ever has been on the outside, struggling to fit in."
— Star Tribune

"A sharp and tasty new musical… Charming… As the show ingeniously turns professional perkiness, the lifeblood of the American musical, into a funny, poignant comment on ethnic self-denial."
— The New York Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Mommy	—	—	—
Daddy	—	—	—
Granny	—	—	—
Ballet Teacher	—	—	—
Chitty Chatty Pal 1	—	—	—
Chitty Chatty Pal 2	—	—	—
Cosmic	—	—	—
Dance Captain	—	—	—
Director Bob	—	—	—
Emily	—	—	—
Gregory	—	—	—
Harriet Tubman	—	—	—
Jazz Teacher	—	—	—
Keith	—	—	—
Larry	—	—	—
Lucas	—	—	—
Miss Pain	—	—	—
Modern Dance Teacher	—	—	—
Nilda	—	—	—
Policeman	—	—	—
Prince	—	—	—
Sandra	—	—	—
Scarlett	—	—	—
Secretary	—	—	—
Sophia	—	—	—

+ 3 more characters

Videos

The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin – Encores! Off-Center First Look

Publication

PublisherDramatists Play Service

Year2003

BindingPaperback

Pages72

LanguageEnglish

ISBN-139780822218791

ISBN-100822218798

LCCN2006469693

LCCML50.C543 B83 2003

The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin is a American black history play written by Kirsten Childs and published by Dramatists Play Service (2003).