A Rose Called Candace. Hit Off-Broadway Show Opens in DTLA

A Rose Called Candace is the remarkable life story of a woman in bloom. Written and performed by Candace Nicholas-Lippman, directed by Candace Nicholas-Lippman and Bernadette Speakes. Produced by JuVee Productions (Viola Davis and Julius Tennon) and The Robey Theatre Company.

Performances begin at Los Angeles Theatre Center on Saturday, June 20th running Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Sunday, June 29. Find ticketing information at the LATC website HERE.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Sacramento, actress and spoken word poet Candace Nicholas-Lippman shares her story of family, faith, fear, and freedom—and finds her truth and transformation along the way. Raw, courageous, and intimate, A Rose Called Candace shatters expectations of what’s possible with a one-woman show and will inspire you to find your own bloom.

“We wouldn’t ask why a rose that grew from the concrete for having damaged petals. In turn, we would all celebrate its tenacity. We would all love its will to reach the sun. Well, we are the roses, this is the concrete, and these are my damaged petals. Don’t ask me why. Thank God, and ask me how.”—-Tupac Shakur, The Rose That Grew from Concrete.

Candace Nicholas-Lippman

In television, Candace Nicholas-Lippman was last seen reprising her lead role as Janelle in season two of Starz’ critically-acclaimed Emmy® award-winning musical-drama series Blindspotting opposite Jasmine Cephas Jones, a recurring guest star role as Yari on Freeform’s hit drama series Good Trouble opposite Maia Mitchell, and also appeared in ABC’s longest-running scripted primetime show, Grey’s Anatomy. In 2019, writer, director, and producer Joanna Johnson proposed the idea of Nicholas-Lippman writing a poetry piece titled Dear Black Girl for Good Trouble episode six titled Imposter, which launched Nicholas-Lippman into her career in poetry. She has released two spoken word poetry albums, Parts of Me and A Poet’s Cry, which are available on all streaming platforms. Her previous stage credits include roles in Fat Ham, In the Next Room, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is an alumna of Cal State L.A.

Bernadette Speakes

Bernadette Speakes is co-director. Her directing credits include A View from the Bridge, PHI’LA the Musical, The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963, Villain: An American Story, and The Bluest Eye. She is an alumna of the University of Georgia.

JuVee Productions

Producing partners include JuVee Productions, the production company co-founded by Oscar® winner Viola Davis and Julius Tennon; and The Robey Theatre Company, founded by Danny Glover and Producing Artistic Director Ben Guillory. Associate producers: JC Cadena, Candace Nicholas-Lippman.

Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre Four is located at 514 S. South Spring St., Los Angeles 90013.

*Information courtesy Philip Sokoloff PR.