Introductions

Who am I?

My name is JD Stokely. I am a soon-to be graduate of Hampshire college, with a concentration in experimental theatre, creative writing and Black studies. I have spent the past two years writing “The (Sexual) Liberation of Mammy”, and have worked for the past three months directing it. I have created this study guide to share with you my writing and rehearsal process, in hopes that you will one day want to put on a production of this play.

Who are you?

If you are reading this study guide, then you are about to put on a production of “The (Sexual) Liberation of Mammy”. You will be leading the process of the production, most likely in the role of a director or facilitator. You might be working with seniors in high school, college students, or even older community members. You might be interested in doing a large scale production, or a staged reading. This study guide will provide you with a roadmap by showing you the steps that we took while creating the original production. There will be examples of workshops, discussion questions and a list of resources that you will help you to give you and your ensemble a headstart in creating an amazing production.

Why put on this play?

“The (Sexual) Liberation of Mammy” is not a play that can just be read. Like all theatre, one of the main purposes of this script is to be performed. The second crucial purpose of this play is to promote dialogue on issues of race, sexuality, motherhood, historical and personal memory and the importance of intersectionality, just to name a few themes. This play should not be showcased without a talkback.

This play is sincere. It’s intention is not to provide the audience with a “right answer” or one specific point of view; instead, “The (Sexual) Liberation of Mammy” provides an array of characters with their own opinions, individual histories and personal truths. I must state that this play is not about one universal black queer experience. It is a very specific story that aims to grasp at more universal themes of family, love and memory. If you are looking to have an honest discussion about race, sexuality, and gender, while simultaneously learning something about the history of minstrelsy and its influence on the American identity, then this play is for you.