Concept: A recurring issue throughout the years in America is police brutality against African-Americans. This play is based on a true story taken place on February 26th, 2012, when a seventeen-year old boy, Trayvon Martin was killed by a neighborhood watch coordinator, George Zimmerman. This was one of the many publicized killings of innocent African-American lives.
Plot: It starts off as a regular day for Trayvon Martin, waking up in his pajamas, brushing his teeth, and eating cereal with his father in the kitchen. The stage is divided with three walls, creating three different rooms of the house. The far-right is his bedroom, the middle room is the bathroom, and the far-left room is the kitchen with his father in his pajamas preparing breakfast. Both characters are going through a regular morning, but the lights are dim, foreshadowing to the audience that a traumatic event is coming. The stage changes into a basketball court, Trayvon Martin changes his pajamas into basketball shorts and a black hoodie. He pulls his hood up, and starts dribbling a basketball around the court while motivational opera song named, “Aqua Vita.” The stage changes back to the house of the living room with a sofa and TV set, where he’s watching the All-Star Game with his father. A pivotal point in the play showing the last time Tracy Martin saw his son, the beautiful piece, “River Flows in You,” composed by Yiruma will be played during this act. During half time, he walks out of the set with his hood up. The stage is divided between a wall, one side is a bodega and the other side is completely dark with a patrol car parked outside the bodega with George Zimmerman. Martin purchases a pack of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea and places the items in his pocket. He pulls his hood up. A sport-patrolling car was going around the neighborhood, and he calls 911 to report “a suspicious guy.” He speculated that Martin was on drugs or was about to commit a crime. Zimmerman calls in and states, “Now he’s coming towards me. He’s got his hand in his waistband. And he’s a black male…Something’s wrong with him. Yup, he’s coming to check me out. He’s got something in his hands. I don’t know what his deal is…These assholes, they always get away.” Martin is on the phone with his friend, Rachel Jeantel to share how a patroller is following him, and few minutes later Zimmerman is chasing him leading to a wrestling match on the ground, the intense song “Excalibur: O Fortuna” is played. Few minutes later, shots were fired, and the entire stage goes pitch black. Martin laid on the floor dead, there was a minute of pure silence. The stage turns back to Tracy Martin running around in his living room hysterically crying on the phone, and the song plays, “One Man’s Grief.” The stage turns into a courtroom with Zimmerman taking the stance, a jury, and Martin’s grieving parents. The other half of the stage has a riot occurring with huge signs outside the courthouse saying, “Justice for Trayvon,” and “Black Lives Matter.” Zimmerman was charged with third-degree murder, the court is dismissed with hugs and cries that justice was served. The next and final scene is the funeral that takes place in a church. There’s a huge cross in the center of the stage with a pastor speaking in front of a podium to a huge crowd, all wearing black formal attire, the song played is, “Nostalgic Dream” composed by Peter Guntry. The light on the stage is only pointed at the open casket where Trayvon lies.
Characters:
Trayvon Martin
7-Eleven Clerk
Parents of Martin
George Zimmerman
Rachel Jeantel
Jury
Judge
Riot Assemble
Funeral Crowd
Stage Sets:
7-Eleven
Martin Household
Courtroom
Outside the courtroom (riot)
Funeral
Costume:
Most of the characters are wearing everyday wear such as jeans and a beat-up T-shirt. An important piece of clothing is the black hoodie that Trayvon Martin wears throughout the entire play because it’s a crucial asset to what led Zimmerman’s suspicion.
Lighting:
Lighting plays an important part throughout the play, due to the fact, it helps foreshadow a dramatic or morbid scene. The lighting played a huge role during the funeral as it beamed right on Trayvon as he lies in his casket, one of the most pivotal and sorrowful scenes throughout the entire play.
Links to the Songs Mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLWqxqMYlXE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X534FhAcOsU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7maJOI3QMu0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxGnYCMmI4I
