

There's something about a man who knows his positions—yoga positions that is.
On any given day you can catch Derrick “DJ" Townsel bending and contorting his well-chiseled frame into seemingly impossible twists, backbends, and handstands that will make you want to be front and center at one of his yoga classes.
The man is flexible, and we're here for it.
As a former NFL wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, the self-proclaimed “Rasta Yogi" (inspired by his West Indian ancestry) is no stranger to hard work. Coming from a family of athletes, DJ was well-versed in physical fitness, but it wasn't until he decided to take up yoga towards the end of his football career as a means to help with preventing injuries that he started to embrace the overall health benefits—physically, mentally, and spiritually—of the age-old practice.
He initially began studying in the comforts of his home, watching online sessions and educating himself on the history of yoga, and even partnering up with a fellow yogi who would introduce him to AcroYoga—a two-person practice combining yoga and acrobatics. Before long he fell in love with yoga and out of love with the game, and in 2014 traded the football field for the mat as a certified yoga instructor.
Now the 28-year-old is traveling the country teaching and inspiring both women and men through his passion rooted in peace and positivity. xoNecole caught up with the free agent to talk more about AcroYoga, his personal growth since starting the practice, and how it's benefiting him in and outside of the bedroom.
Tune in, you might just learn something!
Growing up in Miami, were you surrounded by athletes or did anyone if your family make a focus around mental/physical/spiritual health?
I come from an athletic background. A lot of people in my family played college sports so I've always been athletic. But as far as health and fitness, I started to get really involved in the healthy side of fitness about four years ago when I became a personal trainer after just seeing how it can affect you for the better; it's just something that I got really involved in and kind of gravitated towards, so I chose that as a career.
I got into yoga around the end of my football career because I was trying to make sure that I left football without any injuries ,so I just chose yoga as a way to try to prevent those injuries. And then I fell in love with the spiritual side of it and just kept going.
Now right now you're working as a free agent still?
I guess you can say I'm retired without the publicity (laughs). Technically I'm still a free agent, but I don't have any desire to play anymore; I just fell out of love with the game. I thought football was my passion but I found it elsewhere through football. Blessing in disguise.
So what exactly is AcroYoga is and how do you train for it?
The best way to say it without confusing anybody is partner aerial yoga. You can add things to it if you want and make it as fun as possible, but it's just like something that I wanted to try and my partner got me into it. We practice everyday for up to eight hours sometimes, just playing around and learning new things. The thing is, it's like sharing energy with somebody else. That's what we really found the passion in.
So, are you coming up with your own moves or is it like yoga where you have certain names and positions?
It's getting kind of big now to where there's certain names for poses, but we pretty much take poses that we've seen before and just make our own sequences. Just like yoga there's already poses made and named, but you can pretty much make it your own any way you want, so we do that.
You mention that you practice eight hours a day, what else do you do to train your body from that?
I still work out, but yoga pretty much gets me in shape for acro because it's kind of hard to do if you have tight hamstrings and tight hip flexors, so yoga pretty much gets you ready for the acro because it's hell to try to do a yoga pose with somebody on top of you or in the other person's case doing it on top of somebody's feet.
So how did you find your partner?
She actually found me through Instagram; she was following me and I invited my followers in Orlando to come and do a yoga class with me at the studio, and she came out and we started doing Acro[Yoga] that day and never stopped. That was actually two years ago..
Physical and mental health also play a big role in yoga, how have you grown in both of those areas, and what are some ways that you nourish your mind and body?
Brushing things off, that's the biggest thing. If something ever happened to me I'd be so attached to it and stressing about it and anxious, but now I'm just real go with the flow. I just take everything as they come. I try to make sure that my day isn't filled with being stressed or anxious because if you're stressed, you're living in the past. If you're anxious, you're living in the future. So now I just make sure that I'm at peace at all times.
Are you really particular about what you eat?
I'm not as strict on my diet. I try not to put a whole bunch of fast food in my body, but I try to make sure that I'm not counting calories or macros and all that other stuff. I'm not doing all of that. I still eat what I want, but I try to make sure that I'm watching it and make sure that I eat too much fatty foods or anything like that. I have some days when I get off track.
Are there certain books that you're reading as well?
Right now I'm reading two books: The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and Revolution by Russell Brand.
Were you big on reading before yoga?
I was, but not the genre that I read now. I'm into the more spiritual and energy driven literature. Learning more about myself, learning more about people. That's pretty much what I'm trying to get more into now.
What has practicing yoga taught you about yourself?
That I'm stronger than I thought, physically mentally, and spiritually. That's the main thing. Nothing's ever stronger than your will to fight. Anything I go through I take it back to yoga, I meditate on it, I practice if need be. If there's anything physical I practice, if there's anything spiritual I meditate, if there's anything mental, I meditate.
Did you have any mentors that guided you through it?
One of my mentors is Ravenflower Dugandzic. She was actually my teacher during training, so she helped me out a lot as far as the spiritual side of yoga and the business side.
As far as your dating life, since you work with a lot of women do you ever have any attraction to them or do you try to keep it more professional?
Nah, I got to keep it professional. Whoever I practice with I have a connection with them through yoga, I try not to take it further than that.
Are you more into the athletic women who are into yoga?
I'm just all about energy. That's what I'm focused on.
Whatever draws your attention!
I'd say open-mindedness. Nobody wants a stick in the mud!
If a girl were to surprise you with a date, what's one of your dating fantasies?
I'm not single [laughs], but food. Anything with food. I'm actually standing in front of a Caribbean place now, so Caribbean, Cuban food, anything with Seafood involved, I'm happy.
Are there any specific lessons that your mom taught you about women?
With any woman you want [them] to be not like your mom, but you always hold them to that standard, so my mom's very strong, very family-driven. That's probably the strongest woman I know, so that's the woman that I hold on a pedestal if I were to compare anybody to her.
I heard that you have a lot of male followers, too, so have you gotten a lot of feedback from them?
Yeah, I've actually seen growth as far as males in my class, and I tell them that yoga is not a feminine practice at all, and that you know there's nothing wrong with finding different ways to be healthy. Everybody is not a gym goer, so you just got to find your niche. If yoga is for you it's for you, if it's not it's not. Many guys think that it's not masculine enough, and I ask them why wouldn't you want to be in a room with 30 women?
So I have to ask. Since you're so flexible does it help in your sexual life, too? I feel like if you market that part, the guys will be more willing to embrace yoga!
I actually did a campaign on Instagram about that and told guys, not even just as far as being flexible, but that there are certain poses that keep certain organs healthy. It helps with fertility, it helps with anybody who's struggling with erectile dysfunction—there's poses that can help stimulate the sexual organs that help that out. You can always use yoga poses in the bed, so who can argue with that?
That's interesting. I know there are certain foods you can eat to help with erectile dysfunction. What's one of the yoga poses that men can do?
There's the bridge pose, which is pretty much a laying down position where you're holding your ankles or put your hands on the ground and just pushing your hips into the air. So that's a good pose to help with reproductive organs and everything.
Did you start growing locs for spiritual reasons as well? I see you identify with the Rasta culture.
I call myself “Rasta Yogi" because my roots are Caribbean, now don't ask me what country because my family has not told me that yet (laughs). So my roots are Caribbean and the first time I went to Jamaica I really connected with everybody there and felt like I was home. Whenever I go to the Caribbean I feel like it's where I'm supposed to be. So the name fits.
I'm just curious because I just started locing my hair like two months ago, so I'm always curious as to what makes people loc their hair because some people do it for spiritual reasons or because they identify with the Rasta culture and the idea of freedom and non-conformism.
It's a mixture of all three. I identify with the culture; I'm very spiritual. It's like literally the roots of who we are.
Are there any particular quotes or words/ideals that you live by?
The biggest quote that my family and I use the most is “define your dash." We actually learned that from my uncle, who tragically passed last November, and that was his mantra. So what he meant by that is just the dash between the day that you're born and the day that you die is what matters the most. We try to make sure that whatever we do we do it with a smile on our face and being as happy as we can.
What do you want your legacy to be? What is your dash?
I want my dash to be somebody who was dedicated on spreading light and love to the world, whether it's through conversation, whether it's through yoga practice, teaching, health and fitness. I just want to make sure that whoever I come in contact with I make feel good about themselves.
In one of your Instagram posts you mention your grandmother coming back to speak to you every once in awhile, how do you feel that she's speaking to you?
Through memories. When I meditate sometimes I see her just sitting there smiling, so I feel like I'm doing her proud. As long as she doesn't show up to my meditation with a frown on her face, I feel like I'm doing okay.
Peep the gallery below for more of our favorite poses from Derrick, aka @Dade2Shelby on Instagram:
- Derrick Townsel: From NFL Star to the Remarkable Benefits of Yoga ... ›
- Yogi in the Community: Derrick "DJ" Townsel | Chelsea Loves Yoga ›
- DJ Townsel (@dade2shelby) • Instagram photos and videos ›
- Derrick "DJ" Townsel, The Professional Football Player Turned Yoga ... ›
- DJ Townsel - Unexpected Gifts that Come from Having a Consistent ... ›
Your May 2025 Monthly Horoscopes Are All About Blooming Softly & Trusting Divine Timing
May is about being patient, nurturing your dreams, and creating beauty in your world. This is a more stable and generous month than the chaos that April brought, and we get an opportunity for closure, healing, and rejuvenation this month. We are still amid some important retrograde transits, but these are ones we can navigate better by grounding our energy in the present moment, and not allowing ourselves to stress over the what-ifs.
With the Sun in Taurus for most of the month, May reminds us that there is beauty in finding your peace and not allowing anyone to disrupt that.
Pluto goes retrograde in Aquarius from May 4 until October 13, and this will be a time of remembering your power when it comes to your purpose, innovations, and the ability to attract support into your life. Mercury moves into Taurus on May 10, making this a good time for negotiations, creating new plans financially, and sticking to your word on something that holds value to you. The Full Moon of the month occurs in Scorpio on May 12, and this is the Flower Moon of the year, signifying growth and seeing the beauty in your life.
This Full Moon is all about letting go of what doesn’t feel authentic or resonate with you emotionally, and about experiencing more closure and healing within relationship matters.
Your May 2025: A Monthly Overview
Gemini Season officially begins on May 20, and we enter air sign energy, which is good for communication, business, and coming up with inspiring and new ideas. On May 24, Saturn enters Aries, beginning its new transit where it will remain for the next few years. Saturn in Aries is bold, direct, and straightforward, but so are its lessons. There is a gift in resilience and finding your strength during this time, and this transit will show you where your power is, but it may challenge you to confront self-limiting behavior in the process.
Mercury enters Gemini on May 25, and Mercury loves being here. Mercury in Gemini is the creative genius, and this is a month of aligning yourself with this energy. On May 26, we have a New Moon in Gemini, and it’s time to set your intentions for where you want a communication breakthrough in your life, and what new ideas you want to start planting the seeds for. This is a good New Moon for networking, exchanging ideas, having more fun, and getting inspired.
Article continues after the jump.
May 2025 Horoscopes for Every Zodiac Sign
Keep reading for your sun, moon, and rising sign below to see what May has in store for you.
ARIES
The impact from April is finally behind you, and you get to move forward this month, Aries. After a month of retrogrades and Eclipses, you are starting to see the progress of what you have been working towards financially this year. The Sun is in your 2nd house of abundance, self-confidence, and values this month, and you are putting your dreams here first.
With Venus also in Aries for the entire month of May, you are feeling the support within and without this month, and this is a beautiful month unfolding.
On May 24, Saturn enters your sign, beginning its transit in Aries, which will last for the next few years. Saturn is the master of tough love, and you are going to be learning a lot about yourself during his time and going through a growth spurt. The New Moon of May is at the end of the month on May 26 and will be giving you the answers and clarity you have been looking for, highlighting open communication in your life. Overall, this is your month of fewer obstacles and more progress.
TAURUS
Taurus Season is officially underway, and you are the main character right now, Taurus. Remember that. This month is about trusting your intuition and the timing of things, and knowing that things are working in your favor. With Venus, your ruling planet, in your 12th house for the month, you are seeking a lot of closure and culmination right now and are healing what was. Mercury enters your sign from May 10 until May 25, and it’s all about the perspectives you are gaining right now.
Don’t be afraid to ask the important questions and get down to the bottom of things that have been worrying you. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in your 7th house of partnership, and you are closing the door on what has not been working for you in love. You are seeing the clarity of what you need within your emotional world and how you want to navigate the changes you have been through here now.
GEMINI
May is a new beginning for you, Gemini. You have a lot of energy and vitality with you this month, and you are ready to accomplish some personal goals and intentions of yours. For most of the month, the Sun is in your house of closure and healing, and you are finding yourself rejuvenated from the transformations you have been through. Gemini Season officially begins on May 20, and with the Sun in your sign, nothing is holding you back from shining and living in your truth right now.
On May 25, Mercury enters Gemini until June 8, and Mercury loves being in your sign, as this is your planetary ruler.
Mercury in Gemini is forward-thinking, quick, and intelligent. You are coming up with solutions to previous challenges or obstacles, and overcoming something that has felt restrictive mentally. Before the month ends, there is a New Moon in Gemini on May 26, and this New Moon is one of the best times of the year for you to set your intentions and manifest your dreams. Remember you are worthy of what you are setting out to accomplish this month, Gemini.
CANCER
Cancer, this month requires you to slow down, take care of your health, and allow things to come to fruition the way they are meant to. There is a chance you could be overthinking more than usual this month, and you are being reminded that there is only so much that is in your control, and to give yourself some more grace. The Full Moon in Scorpio on May 12 will help you gain a little more clarity of the heart and is going to be a time of feeling the love and appreciation in your life.
Saturn enters your 10th house of career on May 24, remaining here over the next few years, and you are getting an opportunity to grow and discover where you may have been limiting yourself professionally, socially, or within your aspirations in life. This time is all about reminding yourself that you deserve recognition for the work you do, but that you must also be the one believing in yourself as well. On May 12, there is a New Moon in your house of emotional healing, and you are seeing the gifts of alone time, safe spaces, and tending to your creative inklings at the end of the month.
LEO
This month is an opportunity for a new beginning in love and progress within your emotional world, Leo. You are learning to trust your intuition more, and you are putting more of your energy into your heart’s desires. With the Sun in your 10th house for most of the month, you are shining in your truth and remaining confident in your goals in life.
Venus is in your house of adventure for the entire month, and this is a good time for experiencing romance while traveling or getting out of your comfort zone a little.
Saturn makes a significant move from Pisces into Aries at the end of the month and enters your 9th house. With Saturn here, you will be learning more about what mental growth and clarity mean to you, and this is a good time to dedicate yourself to higher education, traveling, gaining a new perspective, and honoring your integrity and values. The New Moon of the month is on May 26, creating magic within your friendships and community.
You are leaving this month with hope in your heart and new plans for the future.
VIRGO
May is a month of abundance and fruition for you, Virgo. Your dreams and intentions are coming to fruition, and you are owning that which you have created for yourself. With Venus in Aries, this is a good time for seeing support in your life financially, dedicating yourself to your commitments and responsibilities, and seeing the gifts in that. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in your 3rd house of communication, and this is an intuitive time for you, giving you the strength needed to close the chapter on what you don’t resonate with anymore.
On May 24, Saturn enters your house of shared finances, rebirth, intimacy, and resources, and over the next few years, you will be learning the importance of connecting with people who truly have your best interest at heart, and not committing to what feels unstable. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini in your house of career, and this is a good time to manifest and set your intentions for where you want to see professional growth in your life.
Overall, May is about embracing your freedom while honoring the people and connections that help you grow and make you feel more secure in life.
LIBRA
This is a month of feeling empowered and ready to take on anything that comes your way, Libra. You are inspired by the progress you are making in your life right now, and with Venus in your 7th house of love, you are being well-received. This is a month of finding your balance between your path and the growth of your relationships, and there is a sense of support, harmony, and love in your life in May.
You are owning your authenticity and living in your truth fully, and this energy is magnetic.
However, Saturn also enters your 7th house of love this month, where it will remain for the next few years. Saturn empowers and helps you grow, but you can also feel a little more challenged within your relationships during this time. The more you can own your wants and needs, the more you can find vulnerability and support within your relationships. On May 26, a New Moon in a fellow air sign occurs and happens in your 9th house, creating a chance at a new adventure and an opportunity to discover some new inspiration.
SCORPIO
May is about believing in the impossible, Scorpio. It’s time to take a leap of faith in yourself and to remember your power. You are seeking a new beginning in your life, and with the Sun in your 7th house of love for most of the month, you are being supported and encouraged in the process. Pluto, one of your ruling planets, goes retrograde in your house of home and family from May 4 until October, and you are gaining clarity on the people and support systems you can rely on more.
The Full Moon of the month is in your sign on May 12, and this is the Flower Moon of the year. You are in full bloom and ready for whatever is next for you, and this is beautiful. Previous intentions and goals come to fruition for you overall in mid-May, and there is a lot to look forward to right now as you are getting excited about it all. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini in your 8th house, creating a sense of empowerment through what you are looking to change and transform in your life right now.
This month is about not being afraid to take more risks and doing things your own way.
SAGITTARIUS
May is a beautiful month of magic, success, and good fortune, Sagittarius. You are feeling lucky this month and are attracting success to you in many different areas of your life. Venus, the planet of love, is in your 5th house of romance for most of the month, and you are enjoying your life, feeling the love within your heart, and expressing yourself freely in May. You are a magnet for your manifestations, and dreams are coming true for you this month, Sag.
On May 12, we have a Full Moon happening in your house of endings and closure, and you are closing out a big chapter in your life this month.
You are letting go of old pain or emotional experiences and choosing not to repeat a pattern that left you feeling hopeless before. On May 26, we have a New Moon in your sister sign, Gemini, enhancing your need for love, connection, and relationship development this month. This is a great New Moon to set your intentions for what partnerships you want to see grow, heal, and come to fruition for you. Overall, May is your month of fruition, balance, and believing in the magic in your life.
CAPRICORN
May is about slowing down and allowing yourself to find the answers you have been looking for, Capricorn. This isn’t the time to rush your progress or doubt where you are in life. The Sun is in your 5th house, and this is good for finding more time for fun, pleasure, self-care, and asking your heart what it needs. With Pluto going retrograde in your 2nd house of values and income, you are being reminded to hold yourself with integrity and to know that you are worthy of the things you are asking for.
The Full Moon on May 12 is a beautiful time to connect with loved ones or those who inspire you. The universe wants to show you that you are not alone this month and that you deserve to live a life where you can enjoy yourself more and manifest your dreams, rather than believing everything needs to be a challenge to be worthy. Saturn, your ruling planet, then enters your 4th house of home and family, and over the next few years, you are going to be rediscovering what home means to you.
AQUARIUS
Your guidance for May is to trust that what is falling from your life or changing for you is doing so for your benefit, Aquarius. Trust that what is happening is happening for you and not to you, and don’t doubt that you will rebuild from this. With Pluto going retrograde in your sign from May 4 until October 13, you need a break from some of the confusion you have been feeling in your personal life, and you are getting a chance to gain a new perspective this month.
Use this time to get inspired by change rather than let it bring you down, and ground yourself in the present moment more.
Saturn enters Aries in May, where it will remain for the next few years, helping you grow in the areas of your life that have to do with communication, networking, transportation, siblings, and education. You will be learning a lot during this time and will be finding new outlets for self-expression and communication. Before the month ends, we have a New Moon in Gemini occurring in your 5th house of romance, pleasure, hobbies, and entertainment, and after a month of navigating endings, changes, and closures, you are ready for a fresh start and are receiving one in love now.
PISCES
Allow what is to be, be, Pisces. May is a month of allowing yourself to trust the timing of the universe and not giving up hope that things are going to turn out beautifully for you. On May 12, there is a Full Moon in fellow water sign, Scorpio, and this is a time to get inspired and see the benefits of closure. This Full Moon is about gaining a new perspective and not doubting what is clearer to you now, that you are worthy of a new beginning.
On May 24, Saturn moves into your 2nd house of income, and you are going to be moving through a journey of developing financially, and working on maintaining stability while building new foundations in your life. The New Moon in Gemini at the end of the month is about setting your intentions for your home and family life and creating some new energy here. Overall, May is your month of breaking ground on the things you want to create for yourself and trusting the timing of how things are unfolding.
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Featured image by Kyra Jay for xoNecole
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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