On June 4, 2025, celebrating Flannery O’Connor’s centennial birthday, Compagnia de' Colombari presented a work-in-process of REVELATION, Karin Coonrod's theatrical adaptation of one of O’ Connor’s classic short stories. The presentation at St. Paul's Church featured Trezana Beverly, KenYatta Rogers, Stacey Sherrell, Carlton Terrence Taylor, Whitney Andrews, Jo Mei, Ahmad Kamal, and Julian Elijah Martinez.

Continuing Colombari's theatrical adaptations of O'Connor's works, this potent and timely production is in development for a premiere and touring beginning Summer 2026.

Immediately following the Brooklyn work-in-process presentation of REVELATION, actor KenYatta Rogers and director/adaptor, Karin Coonrod, flew to London to attend Flannery Abroad: A Conference in Celebration of Flannery O'Connor's Centenary. Held at Fordham University London from June 5 to 7, 2025, the conference featured a global "who's who" of O'Connor scholars and aficionados. Attendees applauded thunderously after being treated to a private video screening of scenes from the Brooklyn work-in-progress. 

For more information about Flannery Abroad: A Conference in Celebration of Flannery O'Connor's Centenary and to see a list of the speakers and events, click HERE.

ABOUT REVELATION (Director's Note):

With Flannery O'Connor's short story, REVELATION, Karin Coonrod has drawn a direct line from the 21st century to 1963 to create a theatrical piece that addresses the self-righteousness and racism that O'Connor confronted in the pre-Civil Rights era and within ourselves. In a doctor's waiting room, all the provincial white characters are played by actors of color, like a Greek chorus, but in a carnivalesque spirit. Mining the human heart, the actors sculpt a lively trajectory from rage and brutal humor in the vestibule of Hell to one of awe in the purging fire of Heaven. The story moves toward an unfathomable grace.

Composers: Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby

Sound Design: Tony Geballe

Lighting Design: Chris Akerlind

Music Direction: Carlton Terrence Taylor

Movement Direction: Jennifer Harrison Newman

Development and Production History:

Compagnia de’ Colombar’s REVELATION has been in development since 2019. Originally devised as a “radio play,” for streaming in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in December 2022, the Flannery O'Connor adaptation was first presented with actors in front of a live audience in 2023 at Sea Dog Theater in New York City (January 2023), followed by a reading in Georgetown University at The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics (April 2023) and a fully staged reading presentation at The Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies at Fordham University (May 2023). Previous developmental work was conducted at The Flannery O'Connor Society Conference in August 2021, and The Georgia College and State University Andalucia Institute in November 2021. In June 2025 it was staged as a work-in-process presentation in Brooklyn.

REVELATION photography and poster by Shin Kurokawa. Graphics by Zack Stanik.