Author realizes ‘full circle moment:’ stage adaptation

KELLY STARLING LYONS

Children’s author Kelly Starling Lyons, whose book “Tiara’s Hat Parade” has been adapted to the stage by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, attended such plays as a child in her native Pittsburgh.

Kelly Starling Lyons grew up connected to storytelling.

Lyons, a children’s author who lives in Raleigh, was exposed to theater as a child growing up in Pittsburgh. That experience led to writing – first as a journalist then children’s books, where she’s authored more than 30 works over 20 years. One of them, “Tiara’s Hat Parade,” has been adapted by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte to the stage.

“When I was younger, my mom would take my brother Kevin and me to Pittsburgh Playhouse Junior, where we would see children’s plays,” Lyons said. “And so, to now have a book that I wrote on stage for kids, this means everything.”

“Tiara’s Hat Parade,” a one-woman show that runs through March 9, celebrates family, community, faith, giving, millinery and Black-owned businesses. Helen Hayes Award nominee Lydia Danielle, who plays nine characters in the production, playwright Paige Hernandez and director Angelisa Gillyard are Black women.

“The story is about this girl who is inspired by her mom's millinery business, so it really connects with Black-owned business,” Lyons said. “Her mom has a hat shop inside their home, and people from the community come and it’s not just about hats. It’s about giving confidence and giving appreciation and showing and complimenting their beauty and their style.

“There’s a big box hat store that opens and that puts pressure on mom, and she ends up shuttering her business. That’s something that doesn’t just hurt Mom, it hurts Tiara, her daughter, who had been her model. She loved the fun of the hats and getting to meet all the ladies, and when the shop is shuttered, Tiara comes up with a way to bring the magic back for Mama and for the community.”

“Tiara’s Hat Parade” is the sixth book adapted by the Children's Theater of Charlotte for The Kindness Project, which teaches children the importance of love and support for one another.

“Tiara has such a loving, kind gesture for her mom and for the community,” Lyons said, “so that's one of the reasons why it was selected.”

The process of adapting a book into a play was unique for Lyons, especially the scope of personnel needed. A play requires a director, actor and sets, none of which are needed in publishing.

“It was really cool to have a chance to be part of the entire process,” Lyons said. “We actually had a workshop back in July where I had a chance to come to the theater along with Paige and Lydia and Angelisa and more members of the team. And we got to see Paige’s draft of the story as way to act in it and see what nuances needed to be polished, or what extra details we add or what needed to be taken out. Paige is so gifted that the notes that were given during that session, she actually rewrote it for the next day, so we were able to see this evolution of the play.”

Getting a book to the stage is a defining point for Lyons, whose journalism resume includes Ebony magazine and the News & Observer in Raleigh. Connecting with a younger audience, though, is her calling.

“I grew up going to children's theater, so whereas some people dream of having a book made into a movie, that would be great – I would love that,” she said. “But my big dream was to have a book made into a play, and so this is really like that full circle moment.”

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