As part of the ongoing process The Drama Group reached out to the community - asking for submissions of monologues, poetry, visual art, music, and stories - encapsulating some aspect of the Black American experience in all of its multiplicity - with the goal of uplifting the creative voices of African Americans in the region.
Being the Dream is a celebration of African American life, talent, and culture.
Originally, this was going to be one virtual show, but with so many pieces of such varied styles, one became two. The Gallery and The Performance.
For the Gallery Showcase, we worked with Prairie State College, The Illinois Philharmonic, Salon Artists Gallery and other local organizations to gather art and music created by African American creatives in the region.
For the Performance Showcase, the exact pieces performed were not dictated by The Drama Group, but instead by the performers - and the end product is a patchwork quilt of beauty and pain, history and mythology, melody in music and meter in poems.
This is not solely about the history of the past. It is about the history of the now as it is expressed by people living it in their own authentic and individual way.
BEING THE DREAM is directed by Kelly Campos, produced by Mary Ellen Fawk, Tony Labriola and will be filmed by The Drama Group’s Video Production team consisting of Brett Casey and Brandon Berrey.
You can find the YouTube link on https://www.dramagroup.org/ or use the following link:: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1HCMDzDzKnsSWBHxlJjJUA/videos
Currently closed to the public, The Drama Group Studio Theatre is located at 330 W. 202nd Street in Chicago Heights. For information regarding Drama Group activities, please visit our Facebook page or our Web site at www.dramagroup.org.
CAST
“Sunny” Song written by Bobby Hebb
Liane Williams - vocals
Eric Williams - upright bass
“The Therapist” Monologue written by Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene - performer
“Black Widow” Monologue written by Lesley Streeter
Aniyah Clemens - performer
“Born Under A Bad Sign” Song written by Albert King
Mud City Blu Performers
Kendall Carter - electric guitar & vocals
Stacy "Groove Girl" Norris - drums
Peyton McDowell - bass guitar
“She God” Poem written by Faith Rice
Faith Rice - performer
“Creation” A dialogue written by Kelly Campos
Julia Gaskin - God
Kelly Campos - First Woman
“When Doves Cry” Song written by Prince
Matty Jiles – Performer
“B.R.O.N.Z.E” A Declamation written by Delysia Richards
Delysia Richards - performer
“The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain” by Langston Hughes, an excerpt
Paul Lee – Performer
“The Game” Song written by Mud City Blu
Kendall Carter - electric guitar & vocals
Stacy "Groove Girl" Norris - drums
Peyton McDowell - bass guitar
“She Knew” Monologue written by Lavontae Morrow
Lavontae Morrow - Performer
“The Girl With The Powerful Hair” Story written by Kelly Campos
Kelly Campos - performer
“The Black Story” Poem written by Faith Rice
Faith Rice - Performer
A Change is Gonna Come” Song written by Sam Cook
Aaron Reese Boseman – Performer