G.O.D Production Blog #1: The Uprisings in Baltimore cannot remain just a hashtag...

I may be "a day late but for surely not a dollar short"


To be honest, I was a little hesitant on what to say exactly for this first production blog...

Outside of the production, an extreme amount of social havoc has been brewing... as my artistic Virgo brethren, Damon Hastings, who is part of the G.O.D. Production team said, "The pot has been bubbling for years... Baltimore barely represents the pot even boiling... I'm afraid of what happens when it starts to spill over"

The uprisings in Baltimore represent years of suppressed frustration of failed economic, political, and social systems...

I've been quietly watching and reading the posts of my peers...the ones who criticize, the ones who support, and even examining the ones who choose to remain silent...(what are you REALLY thinking...)

In any case I can't help but question...how long will the rants go for? And what will we hashtag next week?

I remember weeks ago we were talking about Walter Scott(remember him?) And then it was Bruce Jenner... Now it's the riots...so what will we go off about next?

I say "we" because I do not want to separate myself from a society of people I live with. I cannot be critical of others, if I am not first critical with myself...

These events are not something to simply rant about...it should force us to examine what ROLE we play in attempting to fight in the struggle...we cannot continually scroll through these issues. When we do so, we normalize the injustice and grow immune to it...everyone has to play a role in what is going on.

And of course you're thinking, "Well, what role are you playing Ayasha? Just making plays!?"

I'm just a writer & educator, who was blessed to be surrounded by like minded ambitious artists who believe in this vision of creating a theatre organization that would serve the people. So yes... I and others are making plays, BUT plays that serve our communities artistically as well financially. We are committed to serving our community with heart felt stories, cause in times like these, people NEED an outlet for hope and a place to express their anger in a system that continually rejects, neglects, dismisses, and even kills them...

Historically it has been proven in times of distress the arts serve as vehicle for hope and resolution. Even last night, my cast mate from "The Ohio State Murders", Alexis and I, discussed how we were an all black cast part of a white owned theatre company putting on a black play to an all white audience...not to say there is a problem with that...the problem is the fact that communities of color(particularly Black communities) are always striving for a place to call their own...if not a place, A LIFE!!

Call me crazy, but I am an Artist! And I believe art to be a weapon(not the only weapon) but a weapon that fosters hope, promotes awareness, and provides expression in times of pure frustration!

When we held auditions two weeks ago, the number one thing I heard from actors when we asked WHY they wanted to join this production was...

"This is something I can relate to. I want to be part of something that matters."

People want to feel connected, they want to feel heard, they want to believe that they matter, their lives matter! So our production is a form of activism that will provide a space for those in our community to feel safe and not feel alone.

The production team for this play is called "The Dream Chaser & Dream Makers"...inspired by Paulo Coelho's amazing story "The Alchemist"

My production team is made up of ACTIVE dream chasers. We're also lover of stories that speak to personal strength and struggle. This book tells the story of a young Shepard boy who follows his personal legend(his dream). In the book there is a quote that says when you follow your dreams "the universe will conspire on your behalf." Struggles and obstacles will present themselves but one must continue their quest no matter what.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am big on tradition. When we had our production team dinner at La Pinata Sunday night to go over the plans for production, it felt good to have the waiter sit us in the same EXACT spot(without asking) where we sat 5 years ago when we conspired our plan for the "And an Angel Came Down..." production. We all felt empowered, connected, & twice as motivated to produce this show...we knew the universe was working on our behalf...we knew we needed to put on this production so others like ourselves could express a story that they felt connected to. We felt and believed our community was (and still is) in turmoil and we could use our art to aid in providing hope for a Generation that continues to suffer.

Outside of the poetics of that moment we shared Sunday Night...the point I'm aiming to make is the theme of this play fits exactly with the frustration of what is going on right now in our society...How do we fight this system? How do we not grow complacent? How do we take responsibility for ourselves and our communities?!

Our reality seems bleak and cold but the dream we have for our community is vibrant,diligent, and full of life...one of the the main themes driving this play is how our dreams and reality are in conflict with each other but they co-exist. Meaning, although we are disgusted and infuriated with the injustices that take place in our society, the visionaries, the revolutionaries, the dreamers who become the doers, must continue to fight for what they believe in, and although we are not content with what it is, we can never give up on what can be...

In times of injustice... there is a time to speak up, and there is a time to burn things up... I'm not here to argue on which method you prefer, but I do challenge you to rise and DO SOMETHING. Because unless you are ACTIVELY participating in the struggle, you are in no place to judge those who are a making an effort to be heard...

We as artists, at Don't Even Tripp, wage war with our pens, our voices, our performances, and our overall stories... We wage war through THIS story 'Generation of Dreams.' It will demonstrate our frustration, our hope, and are action for change. It will also be a small step towards eventually owning our own space where everyone in the community can share their stories and feel safe doing so... that is the dream we have.

I assure you, the next production blog I can provide more of the day to day break down of the what is going on but I felt the need to provide you with our FOUNDATION of what is driving us to put on this show in the first place...I hope and pray that what we are doing helps others to think about what ROLE(artistically, socially, & politically) they play in this struggle...everybody can play a part...

So myself, the cast, and the production team are excited to share something you can connect with, relate to, and not feel alone in. Art has the power to heal, inspire, and provide hope. It may be in a fictional setting, a time in place where we all get to "pretend" but in reality, there is no pretending, we're just reflecting real life.