Nya (Margot Mills) is a mother committed steering her son Omari (Aydaen Camilo) in the right direction in the Department of Theatre and Dance Mainstage Series production of “Pipeline.”
A timely drama by Dominique Morisseau will be the next offering in the Walter Gloor Mainstage Series presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance.
“Pipeline” runs for one week only in Marvel Theatre with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 10.
“Pipeline” follows Nya, an inner-city public high school teacher, who is committed to her students but desperate to give her only son Omari opportunities they’ll never have.
When a controversial incident at his upstate private school threatens to get him expelled, Nya must confront his rage and her own choices as a parent. But will she be able to reach him before a world beyond her control pulls him away?
With “Pipeline,” Morisseau is credited with bringing an “urgent conversation powerfully to the forefront with profound compassion and lyricism.”
Tickets are available through the Fredonia Ticket Office, by phone at 716-673-3501 and online.
Morisseau received a Tony nomination as the book writer for the Broadway musical “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations” and she is an alumna of The Public Theater Emerging Writer’s Group, Women’s Project Lab and Lark Playwrights Workshop. She most recently served as co-producer on the Showtime series “Shameless” for three seasons.
The Fredonia Mainstage production will be directed by guest artist Yao Kahlil, the author of a children’s book series “Yao, the GREAT!” and the series “Daily Mantras and Affirmations.”
Kahlil earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Theatre Performance from the State University of Buffalo, where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in American Studies (African-American Studies). As a creator of content, Yao Kahlil has formed “Backstage With Yao Kahlil,” which can be found on all of his social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He has also created a Private Community on the Patreon platform for subscribers.
As an emerging scholar, Yao Kahlil’s research draws from the disciplines of Theatre Performance, Transnational Studies and Media Study. With influences such as Artists Kara Walker, Nick Cave and Playwrights Lorraine Hansberry, and August Wilson, his installations strive to explore origin stories and themes of intra-racial experience, transracial experience, and concealed identity in performance. Social experiments are fused into the fabric of his art, and his productions often include a signature makeup application.
“Pipeline” is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
