"Pinky’s Beauty and Barber Parlor: The Hair Show" is sure to keep your eyes popping and mouth dropping.

By RHONDA CROWDER

Staff Reporter

Stephanie Singleton, a native of Akron’s East side now living in Los Angeles, has wrote, directed, and produced a stage play that she’s bringing to her hometown May 26.

Singleton, a hairstylist for 21 years, wrote “Pinky’s Beauty and Barber Parlor: The Hair Show” based on experiences in the salon during the course of her career. She’s currently a freelance hairstylist who works on different movie and television sets, credited for styling Katt Williams, Judges Alex and Lynn Tolber, Ice Cube, Tracey Edmonds, and Chris Brown to name a few.

She had a salon in Akron named, First Impressions.

Singleton left Akron in 2001 and has been in LA for seven years. Prior to going out west, she had the pleasure of working on Tim and Daphine Reed’s production team which enabled her to develop the skill set to produce shows.

“Pinky’s Beauty and Barber Parlor: The Hair Show” is a three character play. Pinky, a flamboyant, outspoken shop owner, struggles to keep the bills paid in his beauty/barber salon. As a solution, he comes up with an idea to get the money by entering into a national hair show competition, in hopes to win the first place cash prize and the title to be crowned “The King of Hair!”

However Pinky’s over the top attitude and outspoken personality almost lands him in jail which causes his plans to win the prize money to suddenly seem like a long shot.

“Pinky’s Beauty and Barber Parlor: The Hair Show’ is sure to keep your eyes popping and mouth dropping,” said Singleton. “Because you just never know what will happen next. But we promise you this will be a salon experience you will never forget.”

Singleton went on to say the play is written to bring laughter to the audience and encourage unity. It was created to simply take viewers minds off the daily struggles of rising gas prices and crime… to help people escape reality for a few hours.

It’s been performed in Vegas and Hollywood. Akron is the third production.

“Writing was an outlet at home but in L.A. I had an opportunity to produce my work,” said Singleton, who has been writing since 1998 and produced plays in community centers and churches throughout Akron. “I’m trying to bring back things and inspire others. I’m bringing Holleywood to them.”

In coming back to Akron, Singleton partnered with Novelist and Playwright Jewelene Banks, also known throughout the community theatre circuit.

Additionally, she teamed up Darrita Davies, founder of the Akron Chapter Stop the Violence Movement, who is putting together a weekend celebration to bring awareness crime in our community. Proceeds from the play will benefit the cause.

Singleton is also looking for stylists from local salons to serve as extras in the play, providing them with opportunity to market their business.

The play will be performed at Akron’s East High School on Saturday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. A $25 donation includes a VIP reception/meet and greet with the cast. There will be no ticket sales at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Level 3 Fashions, 1388 Copley Road, (330) 690-2217; E’s Eastside Car Wash, 1238 Newton St, (330) 703-1836; Steppin w/Sel & Val, (330) 907-7277, or Karen Singleton at (330) 785-1836.