Pipeline

by Dominique Morisseau Narrated by Sophina Brown, Eugene Byrd, Demetrius Grosse, Karen Malina White, Sharon Lawrence, Uyoata Udi, X Mayo

Overview

Nya, a dedicated teacher at an inner-city school, is desperate to give her only son opportunities that her own public high school students will never have. When a controversial incident at his private school threatens to get Omari expelled, Nya must confront her own deepest fears to give her son a future.

Copyright © 2017 Dominique Morisseau All rights reserved. Used by permission. Originally Produced by Lincoln Center Theater in 2017, New York City. Pipeline was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago; Martha Lavey, Artistic Director, David Hawkanson, Executive Director.

Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood in February 2022.

Directed by Larry Powell

Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works Full-Cast Performance Featuring:

Sophina Brown as Nya

Eugene Byrd as Dun

Demetrius Grosse as Xavier

Sharon Lawrence as Laurie

X Mayo as Jasmine

Uyoata Udi as Omari

Karen Malina White as P.A. Announcer

Student Voices (Olathe East High School, Olathe, Kansas): Rabiatu Amadu, Calista Wanjiku, Damarion Green-Burk, William Kalihamwe, and Coach Jason Peete

Senior Producer: Anna Lyse Erikson

Prepared for Audio by Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood

Recording Engineer, Sound Designer, Editor and Mixer: Charles Carroll

Senior Radio Producer: Ronn Lipkin

Foley Artist: Jeff Gardner

Music by Jimmy Keys, AKA "J. Keys"

Editorial Reviews

JUNE 2022 - AudioFile

Television regular Sophina Brown leads a talented and largely African- American ensemble in this story of an inner-city public school teacher, Nya, who enrolls her high-school-aged son, Omari, in a suburban private school to protect him from the “old neighborhood.” When he is accused of physically threatening a teacher, all the mother’s fears are realized. The entire cast ably voices the tensions in this contemporary play, but it is X Mayo, portraying the son’s girlfriend, who is the breakout talent. She clearly expresses the insights, anxiety, and strength of a young woman who knows what she wants but can feel it slipping away. This production captures the intimacy and energy of a live theater performance. B.P. 2023 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Library Journal - Audio

09/01/2022

A versatile cast of talented narrators featuring Sophina Brown, Demetrius Grosse, X Mayo, Uyoata Udi, Eugene Byrd, Karen Malina White, and Sharon Lawrence bring out the heartbreak, fear, and anger in Morisseau's (The Detroit Project) powerful audio play. Voiced by Brown, Nya, a dedicated teacher at a struggling inner-city public school, is devastated when her son, Omari, is suspended from his private school for threatening a teacher. Omari's suspension shatters his friends and family, from his girlfriend, Jasmine, who is overwhelmed with anxiety, to his father, Xavier, who considers the enormous weight of parenting in a world with many consequences but few opportunities for Black teens. This full-cast production allows an intimate glimpse into the minds of Omari's community, palpably communicating the depth of their love and their agony as they worry about Omari's precarious future. While all the narrators deliver nuanced performances, Brown is exceptional, presenting a crushing portrait of a mother who is stretched to the breaking point. VERDICT With a running time of just over an hour, this brief but captivating audio play is highly recommended. Share with listeners who appreciate YA crossover titles by authors such as Jason Reynolds, Angie Smith, and Nic Stone.—Sarah Hashimoto

JUNE 2022 - AudioFile

Television regular Sophina Brown leads a talented and largely African- American ensemble in this story of an inner-city public school teacher, Nya, who enrolls her high-school-aged son, Omari, in a suburban private school to protect him from the “old neighborhood.” When he is accused of physically threatening a teacher, all the mother’s fears are realized. The entire cast ably voices the tensions in this contemporary play, but it is X Mayo, portraying the son’s girlfriend, who is the breakout talent. She clearly expresses the insights, anxiety, and strength of a young woman who knows what she wants but can feel it slipping away. This production captures the intimacy and energy of a live theater performance. B.P. 2023 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175433037
Publisher:	L.A. Theatre Works
Publication date:	05/15/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	1,142,404

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