I Dream is a musical by Douglas Tappin, who serves as thelibrettist,composer andlyricist. The production narrates the life ofMartin Luther King Jr., culminating in the events surroundingMartin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Premiering in Atlanta in 2010,I Dream skillfully blendsmusical theatre andrhythm and blues to highlight the pivotal moments of theCivil Rights Movement, as well asDr. King's personal struggles. Over time, the production transformed into semi-stagedopera performances across various cities, but it has now returned to its originalmusical format.
I Dream originated as a musical and premiered on the Alliance Stage at theWoodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2010. Douglas Tappin, sought to create a work that captured both the public and private facets ofMartin Luther King Jr.'s life.[1]
With choreography by Dawn Axam, and designs by Kat Conley (set), Joseph Futral (lighting), Shilla Benning (costumes), and Bobby Johnston (sound). The producers wereDej Mahoney, Cedric Perrier, Tim Bowen, and Douglas Tappin.[1]
The cast included:
I Dream takes place withinRalph Abernathy's consciousness as he nears the end of his life. Accompanied by Bria, a young modern-dayactivist,Abernathy confronts the struggles of his past and his relationship withDr. King. Through Bria, the audience is invited to reflect on their own convictions as they experience the powerful and haunting journey through music and dialogue.[2]
The world premiere ofI Dream took place on the Alliance stage at theWoodruff Arts Center in Atlanta in July 2010. The original production was directed byJasmine Guy and featuredQuentin Earl Darrington asMartin Luther King Jr.,Demetria McKinney asCoretta Scott King, andAverySunshine as Grandma. The production was praised for its ambitious storytelling, withCreative Loafing noting its comparison to Broadway musicals such asJesus Christ Superstar andEvita. It was nominated in 10 categories for Atlanta’s 2009/2010 Suzi Bass Awards, winning for Outstanding World Premiere.[3][4]
A concept recording ofI Dream was released in 2015, featuring performances by Quentin Darrington and AverySunshine. In January 2017, an in-concert version ofI Dream was performed at theJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., receiving positive reviews for its powerful score and emotive portrayal of Dr. King’s life.[5][6]
Between 2017 and 2020, I Dream was adapted into an opera, allowing the work to reach new audiences while still maintaining the core elements of the original musical. Notable productions include:
Following its opera adaptations,I Dream returned to its roots as a musical. A work session was held at theApollo Theater in New York City, where the production was refined to its original musical form. This marked a significant turning point in its development, affirming the work's place as a contemporary musical.
In October 2024,I Dream was performed in concert atRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, as a tribute to thecivil rights movement. This concert aimed to connect the musical with RPI students, faculty, and the local community. Douglas Tappin discussed the performance in a radio interview on Media Sanctuary and in a televised interview, where he reflected on the musical’s enduring themes of justice and resilience.[8][9][10]
Aconcept album ofI Dream entitledI Dream (The Concept Recording) was recorded in 2015, featuringQuentin Darrington asMartin andAverySunshine asCoretta– released for digital download and streaming, including oniTunes,Google Play, andSpotify.[11]
I Dream opened to mostly positive reviews from both the press and those involved with thecivil rights movement.RollingOut.com said: "The life of Dr. King as chronicled in the stage musicalI Dream, is right on time as a reminder of what the fight was for. The dynamically talented cast delivered stirring performances to move audience members through each riveting scene."[12]Creative Loafing reported that "Tappin's hugely ambitious world premiere follows the example of Broadway's big, rock-influenced musicals such asJesus Christ Superstar,Evita, andLes Misérables."[13]The Huffington Post stated: "[The show brought] some of the heartiest former Civil Rights activists in the house to tears, before raising them to their feet at the finale for, perhaps, the greatest standing ovation the show will ever receive."[14] Broadway World stated: From the buzz in the Knight lobby afterwards, I'd say the performance had clearly sustained the audience's enthusiasm in all respects.[15]
Nominated in 10 categories for Atlanta's 2009/2010 Suzi Bass Award,[16]I Dream won in the Outstanding World Premiere (Play or Musical) category.
