Vision & Evolution
Vision
I Dream pushes the boundaries of musical storytelling, blending movement, music, and text into a seamless theatrical language that speaks with urgency, beauty, and revolutionary spirit. At its heart is a story of friendship, memory, and legacy in the crucible of the Civil Rights Movement, brought to life through a score that fuses the infectious energy of Rhythm & Blues with the depth of theatrical music and the expressive power of modern movement. Every element – words, rhythm, voice, choreography – works in concert to create a living, breathing drama that resonates with diverse audiences today.
With the book now fully developed, I Dream is ready to move into full rehearsal on the path to production. Musical and movement exploration will unfold within this process, ensuring that the show’s storytelling remains as daring and emotionally charged as its themes. Our goal is a production that is both intimate and spectacular, a work of art that honors history while speaking directly to the present moment, accessible to wide audiences and unforgettable in impact.
“I Dream is … an invitation to audiences to see history not as distant memory but as a call to courage in our own time.”
The next steps begin in London, where I Dream will launch at The Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence Awards in October 2025, presenting the “A Night in Jail” scene as the main entertainment of the 20th Anniversary Gala. In January 2026, a ticketed Showcase aligned with Dr. King’s birthday and the start of America’s 250th anniversary year will offer audiences and theater leaders a first glimpse of the fuller work. These milestones pave the way to securing a UK theater home, staging the first full production, and building momentum toward a West End opening.
I Dream is a work of remembrance, an explosion of artistry, and an invitation to audiences to see history not as distant memory but as a call to courage in our own time.
the evolution of
i dream
by Writer/Composer Douglas Tappin
The Original I Dream Story
The story of I Dream began when my move from London to Atlanta brought me closer to the enduring legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Deeply inspired by his vision of love conquering hate, I felt compelled to create a musical-dramatic work that would honor both the complexity of the man and the urgency of the times he lived in. What emerged was a fully original piece, with book, music, and lyrics written to portray the final thirty-six hours of Dr. King’s life through dreams, memories, and premonitions.
I Dream premiered as a Rhythm & Blues Opera at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, followed by a Concept Recording and celebrated performances at the Kennedy Center and major opera houses across the United States. Each production drew record-breaking, diverse audiences and ignited powerful community dialogue. From the beginning, I Dream resonated with audiences as a cultural event, fusing theatrical vitality with the weight of history and propelling the work into its continuing evolution.
The New I Dream Story
The reimagining of I Dream began with a story few others have heard, shared with me in trust. In the final months of his life, Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King Jr.’s best friend and closest confidant, wandered the streets in decline, his legacy overshadowed and rarely spoken of. That story became the catalyst for a new vision of the work: one that unfolds inside Ralph’s consciousness as he reflects on memory, friendship, and history’s judgment.
Ralph is joined by Bria, a young activist whose probing questions expose his deepest doubts and regrets. Together they confront the story of two men, two friends with similar backgrounds, education, and work. One ascends to prominence, fame, and legendary historical status. The other is forgotten, erased from memory, and denied a place in history. I Dream seeks to illuminate how and why this happened, and why it matters to our world today. Ralph’s longing to be remembered as Martin’s equal and rightful successor collides with Martin’s unmatched magic and the weight of history’s shadow, forcing Ralph to face jealousy, grief, and flawed witness before death threatens to erase him completely.
At the invitation of New York’s Apollo Theater, I collaborated with playwright Jonathan Payne and co-directors Kamilah Forbes and Quentin Earl Darrington to reshape the story. The reimagined work had its first public sharing in concert at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center toward the end of 2024. Blending beloved music from the original with bold new compositions, I Dream now stands as a powerful exploration of friendship, legacy, and the human cost of change.