Before Sunset
A microplay written and directed by me
In December of last year, I was chosen as one of several inaugural playwrights for the Queen City New Play Initiative, co-founded by writer and playwright Stacey Rose. Our cohort was commissioned to write 3-minute microplays that honored the past, present, and future of different neighborhoods in Charlotte.
I had never written a play of any length before, let alone, scouted actors or designed a set. I was super excited when I received the opportunity, but all of a sudden my life got crazy. Against the backdrop of family health issues, relationship challenges, and bouncing up and down the East Coast for several months, I managed to bring my first piece of art to life and I have my Executive Producer Stacey Rose, Tina Kelly and the entire Queen City New Play Initiative team to thank for that.
This story is inspired by the Charlotteans who continued to reinvent the popular Eastland Mall site, even after its closing in 2010. Beginning in 2015, young skateboarders built an outdoor skate park in the vacant lot of the mall over a span of 7 years, and about 200 local vendors from across the city created an open-air market to sustain themselves and their community. These acts of resilience now face the headwinds of changing times as the city lays out its redevelopment plans for the site.
I titled the play “Before Sunset” to honor the iconic Eastland Mall sun logo that can be viewed in person at the Charlotte Museum of History.
Set one decade before the mall closed, my 3-minute micro-play "Before Sunset" follows a young mother recalling memories with her grandmother of Eastland Mall. "Before Sunset" is also inspired by families near and far, including my own, who have had to embrace uncertainty and change with love and laughter.
“Before Sunset” isn’t perfect, but if you’ve read some of my prior posts, you know progress over perfection is my mantra these days. And I’m extremely proud of how much I grew in this process from ideation to execution.
My friend through divine alignment and serendipity Victoria Scott plays our main character, Gloria. I make a cameo as Nana. I wrote and directed the play, and I designed the set. Videography and costume were handled by me and my right hand through the drama that was putting this piece together: Raven Leigh.
You can view my play along with the other talented playwrights in my cohort on the QCNewPlays Instagram account here.
Also, some behind the scenes photos from the play shooting.
