p r o j e c t s

J a b a r i D r e a m s o f F r e e d o m

by Nambi E. Kelley
directed by Daniel Carlton
music by Joe Plummer

JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM is a play to save Black youth from living through fear. It tells the story of Jabari, a young Black boy from the South Side of Chicago who loves to paint. Through painting, he can escape the turbulent world around him. When a friend is hurt by police, Jabari is afraid to leave the house. With his Forever President Barack Obama as a guide, he dreams he meets children from the Civil Rights Era including Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin, and a 7-year-old Barack Obama on the eve of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Can Jabari use the lessons he's learned to instill in young Barack the ideas he'll need to become president? Will Jabari take these lessons back into his own life and heal his community? Using history, rap, freedom songs, and humor, this play explores what it means to have courage in a world where Black children—Black boys—are not safe.

Click any photo above to be taken to the Jabari Dreams of Freedom website for additional information

H E R O : T h e B o y F r o m T r o y

By Nambi E. Kelley (playwright, lyrics) and Joe Plummer (music and lyrics)
Currently in Development

A new musical about the life of Congressmen John Lewis, commissioned by Pittsburgh CLO, is currently in development to tour in the spring of 2022 as part of PCLO’s “Gallery of Heroes” annual spring tour for young audiences. This is the next collaboration between Nambi E. Kelley (playwright, lyrics), and Joe Plummer (music, lyrics), following the success of their TYA show, Jabari Dreams of Freedom. In this musical, we meet John Lewis as a teenager, navigating discovering his purpose with the help of Rosa Parks, Dr. King, Mae West, and a gang of singing chickens. We get to know the man who both made the rules and knew when to break the rules.

M o r e T Y A S h o w s

So Journey To The Truth
(co-written with Daniel Carlton, Syracuse Stage, Regional Tour)

Ain’t No Black In A Rainbow
(TheatreWorks USA, national tour 2021-22)

The Blue Shadow
(Lifeline Theatre, music by Joe Plummer)

Peace To The Fourth Power
(HealthWorks Theatre, National Tour)

The Tale of Nambi and Kintu
(St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, Regional Tour)

Current young audience commissions include:

This Ability
(co-written with Daniel Carlton, Chicago Children’s Theatre).

D i g i t a l P r o d u c t i o n s

MiLK
currently streaming as a radio play produced by MPAACT directed by Goodman Theatre resident director, Chuck Smith.

BLOOD
is currently streaming as a radio play produced by Variant Artists directed by CEO of Variant, Amie Farrell. BLOOD was produced as a digital play by Gainesville Theatre Alliance directed by Daniel Carlton.

JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM
is a 45 minute digital project based on the stage play, currently available for bookings.

P u b l i c a t i o n s