theories if crime apply one theory to the crowns play
In a 3-5 paragraph response, students will:
- Describe any one behavior, practice, or policy depicted or referred to in the performance
- Detail a relevant theory
- Explain how this theory explains the behavior by applying it to the situation.
(influence of religion, juvenile victimization, cultural transmission, civil rights, etc)
This response will be graded on specificity (avoid vague statements), accuracy of theory description (correct explanation with all important elements), and application (correct application of the theory to the behavior/practice identified), writing conventions, and APA standards for citation, references, and style.
Crowns is a moving and celebratory musical in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of black history and identity as seen through 17-year-old Yolanda’s eyes.
After Yolanda’s brother is shot and killed in Brooklyn, her mother sends Yolanda down south to live with her Grandma Shaw where Yolanda is welcomed into her grandmother’s inner circle of Hat Queens. Each woman’s hat holds a story of a wedding, funeral, baptism as the women share their stories of how they moved through life. Yolanda realizes she’s not alone in her challenges; the hats aren’t just fashion statements – they are testimonies of sisterhood – they are hard earned Crowns.
Besides the 73-year-old salt of the earth Mother Shaw, there is Velma, a 27-year-old mortician who has buried too many classmates; 35-year-old Jeannette, accused of being too flirtatious with other women’s husbands; 40ish, by-the-book, school teacher Wanda, and bigger than life Mabel, the preacher’s wife. Yolanda returns to Brooklyn with new eyes. She can better see where she’s from, who she is, and where she’s going.
Rap, hip-hop, spoken word, jazz, blues, R&B, but predominantly gospel music and dance underscore the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t-zGC7bREc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqW3-SFVFyM
https://www.goodmantheatre.org/Documents/Artistic/CrownsSynopsis.pdf
