A new theatrical experience titled Black Heaven, written by local playwright Kim McMillon, invites audiences to explore a dialogue between historical figures and contemporary society. This innovative play will be performed in a special reading at the Unity of Merced Church on February 28 and March 1, 2024, coinciding with Black History Month.
McMillon, a native of Merced, has spent over a decade crafting this unique narrative while pursuing her doctorate in interdisciplinary humanities at the University of California, Merced. In her own words, she describes Black Heaven as a “theatrical experiment” that features notable figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Lorraine Hansberry. Through their dialogues, these figures discuss their life experiences and reflect on contemporary issues from a posthumous perspective.
The play aims to convey a deeper understanding of humanity and connection across time. McMillon states, “At its core, Black Heaven is a visionary experience about understanding our own humanity,” emphasizing the importance of empathy and shared journeys toward truth.
The narrative explores how these historic figures perceive current events, allowing audiences to hear their thoughts on the United States both now and during their lifetimes. McMillon elaborates that the characters offer insights shaped by their unique experiences while alive, and their ongoing conversations with the living further enrich the dialogue.
While titled Black Heaven, the play features a diverse cast, including figures from various ethnic backgrounds. Notably, German playwright Bertolt Brecht will appear to discuss his experiences with blacklisting and scrutiny during the McCarthy era.
To bring this ambitious project to life, McMillon has collaborated with a talented ensemble of local actors and performers. Among them is Aideed Medina, the current poet laureate of Fresno, who will portray the English novelist Virginia Woolf. Other performers include popular local singers and actresses Cheryl Lockett and Michelle Allison, who will take on multiple roles, including iconic figures such as Nina Simone, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou.
The upcoming performances at Unity Church will mark the first time Black Heaven is presented to an audience. McMillon has been steadily establishing her reputation as a writer and playwright. She has contributed to the anthology Some Other Blues: New Perspectives on Amiri Baraka and edited Black Fire—This Time. In 2014, she co-produced the UC Merced Black Arts Movement Conference: Fifty Years On and created a one-woman show titled Confessions of a Thespian: When Spirit & Theatre Collide, which received acclaim at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.
Performances of Black Heaven are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on February 28 and 1:30 p.m. on March 1. Tickets are available for $15 per person, with a discounted rate of $12 for groups of five or more. The Unity of Merced Church is located at 305 W. 26th St. in Merced, California.
This theatrical reading promises to be a powerful exploration of history, identity, and the human experience, inviting the community to engage with the past while reflecting on the present.
