icon caret-left icon caret-right instagram pinterest linkedin facebook twitter goodreads question-circle facebook circle twitter circle linkedin circle instagram circle goodreads circle pinterest circle

The Play (Adapted from the Book in 1995)

"Having Our Say," the play, is an adaptation of the bestselling book of the same name. Emily Mann, then the artistic director of the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, wrote the adaptation and directed the play. Gloria Foster and Mary Alice starred in the initial production which was produced by Camille O. Cosby and Judith Rutherford James. Amy Hill Hearth was hired by the producers as a consultant to make sure the film adaptation was historically accurate and in keeping with the wishes of the Delany Sisters.

 

After a preliminary run at the McCarter, the play moved to Broadway, opening on April 6, 1995 at the famed Booth Theatre. 

 

The play, which earned three Tony Award nominations including Best Play, enjoyed a very successful run with 317 performances. Reviews in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and many other publications were enthusiastic. After Broadway, the play toured the U.S. It is still performed frequently around the country in venues big and small.

 

A frequently-asked question: Did the Delany Sisters ever get to see the play? The answer is yes! On Mother's Day 1995, the sisters' co-author, Amy Hill Hearth, and Ms. Hearth's husband, Blair Hearth, brought the sisters to a matinee. 

From left, Sadie Delany, Amy Hill Hearth, and Bessie Delany in their private box seats at the Booth Theatre, Mother's Day 1995. Photo copyright 1995 Blair Hearth.