I went to a rehearsal of Their Eyes Were Watching GOD in the black box theater in the Orlando Shakes (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL). The play is based on the book by Zora Neale Hurston. The play was being written by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright James Ijames, and involved a collaboration with the Arden Theater Company. A reading of the play will be presented during PlayFest and a full production is planned for the 2027–28 season. I contacted the director, Roberta Emerson about getting the sketch.
Zora Neale Hurston’s novel was first published in 1937. The story follows the life of a black woman named Janie Crawford who is recounting her story to her best friend Phoeby. The play largely takes place in Eatonville, just north of Orlando Florida which is the first African American incorporated town in America.
Janie had 3 marriages. When her mother catches her flirting with, and kissing a young man who the mom considered a no-good low life, she set up an arranged marriage. That marriage was to the OLDEST man in the cast. He was hard-working and treated Janie well, but their marriage was loveless. The hope for love was crushed by endless chores for survival. Janie met and ran off with Joe Stark who was an ambition man who became the mayor of Eatonville. When townspeople asked to hear from the mayor’s wife, Joe cut her off and stifled her voice. His cutting her off ended any hope of mutual respect between the two. He wanted her as arm candy and dressed her is fine clothing that wasn’t to her taste.
Music stands were set up throughout the space and there was minor staging where actors could move closer together by moving their stands. I learned that the union requires very stiff staging for a reading of a play. All the townspeople were standing when I first started the sketch, but they later sat down ad Janie and Joe Starks began their relationship. For this sketch I watched the full run through of Act 1.
The staged reading of Their Eyes Were Watching GOD is set to happen on October 30, 2026 and it already sold out. Carra Patterson was magnificently cast as Janie. Amitria Fanae was thrilling as Phoebe. She played with the dialect with absolute joy and a sassy attitude. Carl Hendrick Louis was authoritative and charismatic as Joe Starks.
The cast sang an uplifting spiritual, after the town of Eatonville first lit a streetlamp. The energy filled the small black box theater and I felt inspired. The people who were lucky enough to get a ticket to the show, are in for a rare treat. I am glad I got a glimpse at the creative process before the play opened to a live audience.