I Dream the musical logo in white

The Creative Team

Douglas Tappin
Writer & Composer

Douglas Tappin bridges the worlds of law, scholarship, and musical theatre with a unique artistic vision. Born and educated in the UK, he worked as a barrister for eleven years, including as In-House Counsel for Island Records, Universal Music, and Zomba/Jive International, before answering a deeper calling.

Driven by questions about art’s transformative power, Douglas pursued postgraduate studies that culminated in his groundbreaking dissertation, That There Might Be Inspiration, an exploration of how musical drama can transform individuals, communities, and culture through the works of Wagner, Puccini, Sondheim, Lloyd Webber, and other leaders of the form.

For over two decades, Douglas has been writing and composing musical-dramatic works that spark reflection, emotion, and community engagement. He has created nine full-length pieces in addition to I DREAM, a work developed through extensive research of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, writings, and speeches to ensure historical and socio-cultural authenticity. His collaborators have included musical luminaries such as Greg Phillinganes (musical director for Stevie Wonder and the late Michael Jackson) and Grammy-nominated orchestrator Carl Marsh.

A member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Douglas consults with educational, business, and cultural organizations on the vital role musical drama plays in our lives. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, Anna, and two children, creating works that catalyze love, hope, justice, and reconciliation.

Jonathan Payne
Writer

Jonathan Payne’s work has been featured at Rattlestick Theater, NYTW, Long Wharf Theatre, Ars Nova, Fringe Festival NYC, The Bushwick Star, and the Fire This Time Festival. He was a fellow at New Dramatists, Playwrights Realm and The Dramatist Guild, as well as an Ars Nova Play Group. Awards include the Princess Grace Award, Holland New Voices Award, Rosa Parks Award, and John Cauble Short Play Award.

He has recently received a commission from The Apollo Theater and their new works initiative. His play A Human Being of a Sort premiered at Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2019. It starred Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner André Braugher and was directed by Obie Award winner Whitney White. In 2018, his critically acclaimed play The Revolving Cycles Truly And Steadily Roll’d premiered off-Broadway, produced by The Playwrights Realm.

He received a BA from the GSA Conservatoire (UK), an MFA in Playwriting from Tisch School of the Arts, and an Artist Diploma Recipient in Playwriting from The Juilliard School.

Quentin Earl Darrington
Co-Director

Quentin Earl Darrington was most recently seen in the new Broadway mega-hit MJ the Musical, starring as Rob and Joe Jackson. Previously he received a Grammy nomination for his acclaimed performance as Agwe in the Tony Award-winning revival of Once on this Island. He made his Broadway debut in the 2010 Tony-nominated revival of Ragtime, starring as Coalhouse Walker Jr., and was also seen as Old Deuteronomy in the Broadway revival of Cats.

A native of Lakeland, Florida, God’s blessing on Q’s life has provided an extensive career, taking him from the Bay to Broadway and beyond… traveling across the globe performing, teaching, serving, and aiding humanitarian efforts in 46 US states, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Russia, New Zealand, and Kenya. Broadway national tours include Memphis, The Color Purple, and The Lion King. Q has also starred in productions at The Kennedy Center, NY City Center, Papermill Playhouse, the MUNY, The Cincinnati Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, and the Goodspeed Opera House, among others.

In addition to his stage career, Q has recently guest starred on Blue Bloods, appearing also on NCIS NOLA, The Blacklist, Elementary, Madam Secretary, The Good Fight, and recurs on the new CBS drama The Code.

He holds an MFA from the University of Central Florida and a BA from the University of South Florida.

Kamilah Forbes
Co-Director

An award-winning director and producer, Kamilah Forbes is the Executive Producer for the World Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. In her diverse body of work, Forbes is noted for having a strong commitment to the development of creative works by, for, and about the Hip-Hop Generation. Her talent in the range of aforementioned endeavors has been said to “cast a vivid and evocative spell on both the national and international stage.”

While her family originally hails from Jamaica, Forbes was born and raised in Chicago. After graduating from Howard University with a degree in theater, Forbes partnered with one of her former classmates and friends, actor Chadwick Boseman (42, Get On Up) and wrote a theatrical piece fusing the elements of her generation’s sensibilities, thrust and penchant for social justice, coining the aesthetic ‘hip hop theater.’ Forbes and Boseman presented the piece at the National Black Arts Festival and in other venues. A year later, the Hip-Hop Theater Festival was born.

Over the last 16 years, Forbes has led the Hip-Hop Theater Festival as it has grown from a fledgling project into an independent nonprofit organization with a truly national scope. Presented in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, the festival has featured the works of nearly 100 artists from the United States and from around the world.

Forbes has produced a number of works for both television and theater, and has received numerous accolades for her work in the arts, including a Josephine Abady Award, AUDELCO Award nomination, NAACP Image Award, numerous Helen Hayes Award nominations, DC Commission Distinguished Artist Award, Tony Award, and The Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Theatre Artist.

The Cast & Musicians

4 Principals | 10 Ensemble
| 4 Dancers

RALPH: Trusted friend and confidante of MARTIN, he is a fragile man, now near the end of his life due to a series of health issues, but still possesses the enormous courage of a lion. His comedic sensibilities and innate quirkiness surprise many because it emerges from behind a somber exterior, which is easily mistaken for aloof self-righteousness. Has the world lost its damn mind, or has he lost his?

MARTIN: The hugely charismatic leader of a world-changing movement, he is worn by the war raging within him: the tension between pursuing a non-violent or a more forceful approach to fixing the people’s plight. Husband to CORETTA and the father of young children, MARTIN struggles to balance and mismanages the enormous expectations of leadership and family. His vibrant, compelling personality is driven by his immense compassion for all humanity. He is brave because he cares deeply!

BRIA: Seventeen years of age, but with a wise old soul, she is feisty, quick-witted, and street-smart. Always in some kind of fight with someone, her energy too often overflows in ways that are destructive to her activist aspirations. Her confident swagger disguises her skepticism that love can truly change anything. Is her presence conjured by RALPH’S failing mind, or is she a true modern revolutionary, as conflicted and flawed as RALPH himself?

CORETTA: Blessed with a courageous inner strength that is a bedrock of truth and perseverance. An idealist at heart, she co-leads the movement with MARTIN in creative, inspiring ways, presenting a serene exterior while grappling with her dreams for their future and the threats to the safety and integrity of their family. A virtuous powerhouse of a woman and an immense, unstoppable force for good.

ENSEMBLE: Plays a variety of featured roles including Grandma (Jennie Celeste Parks Williams), Juanita Abernathy, Claudette Colvin, Rosa Parks, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, and John Lewis.

MUSICIANS: A seven-piece rhythm section (drums, bass, rhythm guitar, electric guitar, keyboard 1, keyboard 2, keyboard 3). Scalable to 15 players and a full symphonic orchestra.