Film co-directed by Theresa Columbus and Didier Leplae
Music written by Didier Leplae, Columbus and the Chaza Orchestra: Peter Barrickman, John Fletcher, Jen Emma Hertel, and Jason Tucker
Cast: Stephanie Barber, Peter Barrickman, Sara Boland, Theresa Columbus, Peter DiAntoni, John Fletcher, Karyn Halmstad, Jen Hertel, Anna Diantoni, India Lathon, Micca Leider, Alyssa Leighton, Didier Leplae, Xav Leplae, Kiara McFarland-Caldwell, Melissa Scherrer, Sativa Silver, Sheila Spargur, Thidapha Thongsavanh, Jason Tucker, Eric Ziegeweid
"Chaza Show Choir" was created in 1999 as a 90 minute play with a cast of more than 20 that performed in Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York, and Providence. The play was written and directed by Columbus, with music written by Didier Leplae, Columbus and the Chaza Orchestra: Peter Barrickman, John Fletcher, Jen Emma Hertel, and Jason Tucker. A spirit of collaboration filled the process of creating this narrative over a 6 month period, with countless volunteers creating costumes, sets, props and offering ideas for the play. The group went on tour in the summer of 1999. Upon return, Columbus and Leplae immediately started the process of creating a film version of "Chaza Show Choir," a feature length black and white 35mm film which was released in 2004 and won a first place award at the Madison Film Festival. In 2015 "Chaza" was shown at the Anthology Film Archives in New York and the Charles Theater in Baltimore.
(A complete list of film credits can be requested at [email protected])