This is a photograph of poet, playwright, and actor D. Colin, of Troy, as Preacher's Kid in her play Psalm 91: Releasing Religion. The play, a blend of memoir and poetry, completed its run last Saturday, produced by Creative Action Unlimited at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy.

Angelique Powell portrays Our Lady of the Sick in "Psalm 91: Releasing Religion," a new play written by D. Colin and directed by Michael Kennedy.

Aaron Moore portrays FatherSkyGod in "Psalm 91: Releasing Religion," a play written by D. Colin and directed by Michael Kennedy

TROY — D. Colin is a preacher’s kid, raised by devoutly Christian Haitian immigrant parents and a father who served as a pastor of an evangelical storefront church in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

He preached a fire-and-brimstone orthodoxy in French and Kreyol to mainly Haitian congregants and raised his daughter, an only child, in a strict, conservative household.

Her formative years revolved around nights and weekends spent assisting her father with Bible study, choir practice, teaching children at Sunday school and tending to his flock. Her mother was a vital part of the family-run enterprise, as well.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

Colin’s new play, “Psalm 91: Releasing Religion,” is a profound reckoning with what it means to be a preacher’s kid and how the narrow catechism she was taught blossomed into a much broader self-examination and expression using art as a way of living a fulfilled and rewarding life.

“People who have known me a long time as D. Colin, the Capital Region poet, had no idea about who Danielle was before D.,” she said. “I was approached by people after the show with tears in their eyes because they felt they were seen and they could relate to parts of my story. They told me they were grateful for my courage in telling a story that is often buried.”

Colin gives a searing, tour de force performance. The 1 hour and 45-minute play is a blend of memoir and........

© Times Union