Real People's Reaction To Tyler Perry's 'For Colored Girls' - Chicago

For Colored Girls

Written and directed by Tyler Perry, the film 'For Colored Girls' is based on Ntozake Shange's award-winning 1975 play, 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.' The play morphed into an Emmy Award nominated television special and is still being performed around the world. BlackVoices.com presents a closer look to the remarkable cinematic effort.

For Colored Girls

Anika Noni Rose (as Yasmine), Kerry Washington (as Kelly), Janet Jackson (as Jo), Kimberly Elise (as Crystal), Phylicia Rashad (as Gilda), Loretta Devine (as Juanita), Tessa Thompson (as Nyla) and Thandie Newton (as Tangie) in the rooftop scene of 'For Colored Girls.'

For Colored Girls

Janet Jackson stars as 'Jo' in 'For Colored Girls.' Jo is a high-powered businesswoman who has virtually willed herself to forget her tough upbringing. "Jo's very driven, and she's not the nicest person on the block," said Jackson.

For Colored Girls

Jo is married to stockbroker Carl (played by Omari Hardwick). She is also the head at a major fashion magazine titled Robe Rouge.

For Colored Girls

Jo and Carl (Omari Hardwick) in a scene at the opera in 'For Colored Girls.' This marks Jackson's third outing with Tyler Perry having done 'Why Did I Get Married?' and its sequel 'Why Did I Get Married Too?'

For Colored Girls

Omari Hardwick is Carl, a stockbroker and husband of Jo (Janet Jackson). "I think he's sexually, not necessarily as confused as the cliché down-low man who's living with a woman but carrying on an affair with a man would be, I think it's a little bit deeper than that," said Hardwick.

For Colored Girls

Loretta Devine stars as 'Juanita' in 'For Colored Girls.' Devine was a young actor in graduate school when 'Colored Girls' became an Off-Broadway sensation in 1976. She successfully auditioned for a role, but had to turn it down when she was unable to obtain the scholastic leave of absence. She went on to make history at Lorell Robinson in Broadway's 'Dreamgirls.'

For Colored Girls

Juanita keeps it real with her students in 'For Colored Girls.' Juanita is a nurse who has opened a women's health and wellness clinic at a Harlem community center. She doles out condoms and a message of empowerment to young women, but struggles in vain to resist the charms of her two-timing boyfriend.

For Colored Girls

Juanita her man Frank (played by Richard Lawson) in an emotional scene in 'For Colored Girls.'

For Colored Girls

Richard Lawson is Frank, the smooth-talking, faithless lover of Juanita (Loretta Devine). "Frank is a Vietnam vet who came back and is trying to get his life together. One of the ways he does that is to try to impress and charm women; it's the one thing he can control in his life," said Lawson.

For Colored Girls