DA CLASSROOM AIN’T ENUF

By Charles Payne
Directed by Katie Jones

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PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE

Do you know what a choreopoem is? A choreopoem is a form of dramatic expression that combines poetry, dance, music, and song. The term was first used in 1975 by American writer Ntozake Shange in a description of her work, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide: When the Rainbow Is Enuf. I didn’t come across Shange’s written work until my first year of college while taking a Theatre and Interpretation course. I struggled to find pieces to perform in class that spoke to me and that I could put my whole self into. In many ways, I didn’t see myself in the traditional pieces that my peers used. But when I stumbled upon Shange’s choreopoem, I finally found words that captured my voice and those of people I grew up with. Her written work got me through my first semester and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf began as a submission to the American Players Theatre (APT) New Voices project, which aims to expand the classical canon by developing Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) playwrights. I’m a self-taught, Black social artist, and I thought, why not write a play about the one thing I know best in the world: navigating public education? And even though I’m a crispy-fried, burnt-out educator with under ten years of experience, I ended up becoming a 2022 The Magnetic Theatre (TMT) New Play Development recipient, an APT New Voices semi-finalist, and a Wisconsin Wrights 2022 New Play Development project finalist. All this because I came across For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide: When the Rainbow Is Enuf in college. Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf tells blistering tales of racism, inequity, access, and educational privilege. I no longer teach in public schools, but Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf is the quintessential output of my life’s work, a creative commitment to applying my time and talents toward a summum bonum. And I will be forever grateful to Clemson University and The Magnetic Theatre for believing in my candid choreopoem.

BIO FOR CHARLES PAYNE

Charles Payne is a working poor, certified teacher, and a self-taught social artist from Lansing, Michigan. As a child, he loved hearing the sound of Paul Harvey's voice, their innate ability to describe every intricate detail truly inspired Charles to tell stories himself. Charles regularly performs with The Moth in various cities and organizes the event in Madison Wisconsin. And, yes, Charles can't wait to give you the rest of the story.

DA CLASSROOM AIN’T ENUF
SCENE LIST

​​Intro
Welcome
And Ain’t I a Teacher with Jeremiah Blue
The Cure
Arizona By Way of Detroit
Mexican Candy
Lost Again
Grandma’s Hands
Short Bus
I Don’t, No.
Stop and Frisk
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Mourning Food
Kansas City Bop
I Wish by Skee-lo
Broken Child
Graceful Butterfly
Dinner with a Pig
Ontario

Intermission

U.S. Department of Education after The Klute
Black Walls
Mama Don’t Cry
Every Day
This Little Light of Mine
Carolina Story
Dead End
Vice News
Extra Duties After Jeremiah Blue

ABOUT THE CAST
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ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

AARON YBARRA (Choreographer & Script Contributor) - Aaron is grateful to contribute words and movement to this wonderful project. He has written for The Magnetic Theatre's 2022 One Act Play Festival and the Montford Park Players' A Midsummer Night's Dream, and worked on dance with Shakespeare & Friends' A Doll's House.

ABBY AUMAN (Lighting Designer) - Abby is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.

ANNE MBODWAM (Props Designer) - Anne’s art started many years ago in Ethiopia where she was born. Over the years and through travels and art education in Nigeria, France, and the USA, her style has developed into what you see today. Anne’s favorite media are acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, and chalk together with other mixed media. She’s inspired by bright colors, beautiful landscapes and people from everywhere.

BETH SOLER (Costume Designer) - Beth Soler has been a mixed media artist for ten years. She absolutely loves all paint mediums, and creating art brings peace to her soul. Beth's company Rock Your Notebook provides quality, handmade notebooks for you to document your life. Beth lives in Asheville with her husband and three children and teaches for AB Tech's Business Program.

DYNEECE JOHNSON (Scenic Painter) - Dyneece Johnson is a 60-year-old mother of three beautiful daughters and three awesome and wonderful grandchildren, and has one fantastic brother. She has been interested in art since she was a small child. She raised her children as a single mom, which has been the best part of her life, but between working two jobs and taking classes at ABTech she had no time for her art. Just a few years ago she decided to get back into it and loving it and she also so thankful for the opportunity to work with The Magnetic Theatre.

GINA PURRI (Stage Manager & Music Director) - Gina Purri is a singer/actor/musician/aerialist/playwright and all-around theater person. This is her first show with The Magnetic.

JESS JOHNSON (Dramaturg) - Jess has over 20 years experience as a stage manager, director, props and scenic designer, and dramaturg. She currently serves as the Co-Artistic Director for The Magnetic Theatre.

KATIE JONES (Director) - Katie is a theatre director, performer and educator. She grew up down South but spent her 20s living and working in Chicago. She founded Wishbone Theatre Collective in 2009 and continues to perform with them, throughout the country. Katie has a BA from Clemson University and an MFA from Naropa University. In addition to serving as The Magnetic Theatre's Co-Artistic Director, she has worked locally with Asheville Creative Arts and the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, and teaches at Brevard College.

MADDIE ANDERSON (Board Operator) - Maddie received her technical theatre degree from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2021. She has been working as a freelance lighting designer and technician for live theatre, music, and dance in the WNC area since then, and recently moved to Asheville to be closer to the art scene. She is happy to be working on this socially challenging and thought provoking piece, Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf.

TOM BASTEK (Set Builder) - Tom is a 30-year veteran of performance in theater, film, orchestra, radio, standup, sketch, and improv comedy. He is thrilled to be back at The Magnetic for this production of Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf. He was last on stage at The Magnetic as Frank in the world premiere staged reading of the musical Riveted and is currently appearing as Karl the Giant in Big Fish at HART. He has also been working as the technical director for the Kids at HART performances of Children of Eden and Alice in Wonderland. In his spare time, he enjoys pinball, LEGO, darts, cooking with his wife Jenny, and being yelled at by his hound dog Maggie.

RICHARD JONES (Composer) - Richard Jones Jr is an entrepreneur, educator, audio engineer, music producer, and community organizer currently living in Madison, WI. He is the Owner/ Operator of Oddly Arranged Media, LLC.

SPECIAL THANKS TO…

Aaron and Gus Ballard, Clemson University, Liz Boyd, Jen Murphy, Sarahjeen Francois, Nykila Norman, Peter Smith McDowell, Winston Gantt, Aaron Ybarra, Liam Donley, and Chris Sauerbrey

This production was made possible in part by the North Carolina Arts Council Spark the Arts grant.

GALLERY
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Awad
Eliza Heath
Jason Phillips
Max Reid
Josh Sullivan