Zora Neale Hurston was a fascinating woman, by all accounts. And “Let The People Sing,” the play about her that’s onstage at Rollins College in Winter Park, gives us a taste of her fire and drive.

Devised by three Rollins students and a faculty member after extensive research, the play is also something of an academic pursuit, and that shows, as well. The hardest part about documenting an intriguing person is knowing what to leave out, and sometimes this play feels as though it’s meandering off course.

But when “Let the People Sing” focuses on its primary subject and an important local incident from the footnotes of history, it makes a thoughtful impact.

Students Conner Chaumley, Yasmine Hudson and Max Payton, alongside professor Marianne DiQuattro wrote “Let the People Sing,” which hinges on a specific happening in the life of Hurston, the acclaimed Harlem Renaissance writer, folklorist and anthropologist from Eatonville, best known for her novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”

In 1932, Hurston dreamed of staging a musical revue spotlighting African American folk culture at Rollins. The college did host the show, in January 1933, but because of the racist attitudes of the time, presented it in the Recreation Hall, not the prestigious Annie Russell Theatre. And the audience was limited to whites only so the races wouldn’t mix.

“Here in Eatonville, it’s us and them,” one character grimly states.

A friendly professor, however, did stage the show, titled “From Sun to Sun,” to a mixed-race audience outside the auspices of Rollins, then a new college trying to find its footing under president Hamilton Holt.

Breyonna Crawford stars as acclaimed writer Zora Neale Hurston in “Let the People Sing” at Rollins College. (Courtesy Tony Firriolo via Annie Russell Theatre)

Directed by Elizabeth Bell-Haynes, “Let the People Sing” begins dramatically with voices expressing shock at the idea of the show attracting theatergoers both Black and white. Silhouettes imply the Winter Park personages behind the voices, and in fact the show boasts visually appealing silhouette and shadow work throughout. (Rowyn Sam is the lighting designer.)

Then, in another creatively theatrical move, a meeting between Hurston and Russell — the acclaimed actress that gives the Rollins College theater its name — is imagined as Hurston starts telling her story and using the people around her to bring it to life.

Interspersed with the main narrative are the folk tales near and dear to Zora’s heart, and they are acted with zest. The magic of them could be amped up, though: The lighting and sound don’t change in a way that indicates we’re now in “story time” as opposed to reality.

Righting a racist wrong: Zora finally takes the Annie Russell stage

And while exploring Hurston’s path to “From Sun to Sun,” the story line takes a few too many side roads — often without a satisfying end. As with many a biopic, the narrative occasionally gets too interested in plot points than emotional moments.

The infamous romantic triangle of Langston Hughes, Louise Thompson and Hurston plays out onstage — but doesn’t climax with the severity it should. Too much time is given to the whims of patron Charlotte Osgood Mason, not to take away from Julia Brown’s nicely mannered performance.

Chelsea Daniel (from left), Carlos Rangel Bejarano, Dwayne Allen, Conner Chaumley and Breyonna Crawford populate a scene set in Eatonville in “Let the People Sing” at Rollins College. (Courtesy Tony Firriolo via Annie Russell Theatre)

The second act, in which Zora returns to her beloved Eatonville, feels tighter and more focused while we get to the meat of the Central Florida conflict. It’s helped, too, by uptempo musical numbers, such as “Can’t Hide, Sinner” (playwright Payton and Terrance Lane served as music directors), and Arius West’s folk-style choreography.

Edward E. Haynes Jr.’s scenic design emphasizes artistry and uses projections to good effect. (A slide show of historical images fascinates.)

Playwright Chaumley has a soft-spoken way with Hughes, while Lorenzo Naimoli stands out in the supporting cast as two different but equally passionate and kind professors.

Eltavious Johnson makes a fine impression as Zora’s principled and passionate preacher-uncle. It’s a shame that his climactic speech to his niece, in which he proclaims “Let the people sing,” is staged way off at the side of the set with Johnson’s back to a chunk of the audience.

Zora (Breyonna Crawford) hears some inspiring words from her uncle (Eltavious Johnson) in “Let the People Sing” at Rollins College. (Courtesy Tony Firriolo via Annie Russell Theatre)

As Zora, clad in one of Allison Crutchfield’s colorful period costumes, Breyonna Crawford captures the writer’s high spirits and doesn’t shy away from her quick temper. “I’ll be back someday,” she and her cast mates sing in the finale — fitting as after all this time, Zora Neale Hurston is finally back at Rollins.

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‘Let the People Sing’

Where: Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park
When: Through Nov. 16
Cost: $20
Info: rollins.college/shows

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/14/let-the-people-sing-review-rollins/