Digital Playbill
The Children's Legacy
Written by Lola Lenore Louis · 45 minutes, performed without intermission, as part of a larger presentation of plays
Original off-Broadway production
Workshopped at The Wild Project
195 E. 3rd Street, New York, NY
July 25 & 26, 2025
Directed by Leah DeAbreu-Goodwill, Shakira DeAbreu, Carolyn “Meckha” Cherry
A Note from the Director
Dear Friends and Honored Guests,
It is with profound gratitude and deep emotion that I welcome you to our production of “The Children’s Legacy.” This performance represents not only an artistic endeavor but also a continuation of the vision and legacy of our founder, Lola Lenore Louis.
Lola—a native of Trinidad and Tobago and a multifaceted artist: actress, director, singer, pianist, and ethnic folk dancer—began this organization with a dream of providing high-quality arts education and performance opportunities in our community. What started in her living room has grown into the vibrant organization you support today. Though we lost our beloved founder in October 2023, her spirit infuses every aspect of this production.
“The Children’s Legacy” explores the profound connections between our past and present, examining how historical experiences shape our contemporary reality. Through this powerful narrative, we witness a journey of self-discovery, cultural reconnection, and healing—themes that resonate deeply with our mission to empower through creative expression.
As you experience this performance, I invite you to open your heart to the stories being told, to reflect on your own cultural heritage, and to consider how we might collectively build a future that honors our past while creating new possibilities for the generations that follow.
With deepest appreciation,
Ann Lemond-Hume
Executive & Artistic Director, Lola Louis’ Creative & Performing Arts, Inc.
Synopsis
“The Children's Legacy” is a powerful dramatic work that explores the connections between African American history, cultural identity, and contemporary social issues through a narrative that moves through time and space.
The play centers on a young African American teenager who, disconnected from her cultural roots, embarks on a dream-like journey guided by a Griot—a traditional West African storyteller and keeper of oral history. Through this spiritual guide, she encounters historical figures and ancestral voices that illuminate the rich tapestry of the African and African American experience.
As the journey unfolds, the play confronts pressing challenges facing African American youth—from systemic inequities to questions of identity and belonging—while offering pathways to healing through cultural connection and self-discovery.
Main Characters
- The GriotShakira DeAbreu
- ShakiraNicole Mercedes
- KarloffAntonio Gordon
- VeronOrlando Gordon
Scenes & Setting
Act I: “The Lost Child”
The Dream
In a surreal, dreamlike space, Shakira, a troubled teenager disconnected from her roots, cries out for answers and hears only silence. The Griot enters—a mystical storyteller draped in traditional garb—and invites her on a journey through time. Theme: disconnection from cultural identity, and the beginning of self-discovery.
Act II: “Awaken the Legacy”
Detention
A juvenile detention center, where tense exchanges reveal the systemic issues—poverty, profiling, and broken homes—that landed these teens there. Theme: injustice and identity formation.
Pregnancy
Shakira and her boyfriend face the fears of becoming teen parents and repeating history. Theme: responsibility, womanhood, and generational cycles.
Drug Abuse
A gut-wrenching depiction of how drugs infiltrate and destroy lives, as the teens struggle with addiction, peer pressure, and the absence of support. Theme: escape, pain, and recovery.
The Park
A place meant for safety becomes anything but. Tensions flare and moments of innocent joy are stolen by violence and chaos. Theme: lost innocence and the search for freedom.
The Visitation
In a powerful dreamlike sequence, historical Black leaders—Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Shaka Zulu—appear to the youth, offering wisdom, warnings, and hope. Theme: ancestral guidance and legacy.
The Demonstration
United by their pain and purpose, the youth organize a peaceful demonstration, demanding to be heard. Chants, speeches, and raw emotion fill the space. Theme: empowerment, unity, and resistance.
Cast List by Scene
The Dream
- GriotShakira DeAbreu
- ShakiraNicole Mercedes
- MotherLeah DeAbreu-Goodwill
Detention
- GriotShakira DeAbreu
- Police OfficerRenee Lemond
- ShakiraNicole Mercedes
- CrystalNazani Martin
- NicoleEsther Marks
- ReneeKemar Matthews
- TheresaSaidy Ledesma / Faith Goodwill
- GarrenOsiris Adjepong
- VeronOrlando Gordon
- KarloffAntonio Gordon
Pregnancy
- ShakiraTatyani Lawton
- KarloffAntonio Gordon
Drug Abuse
- KarloffOsiris Adjepong
- ShakiraNicole Mercedes
- VeronOrlando Gordon
- Aaron (Counselor)Aaron See Yuen
The Park
- Child 1Amir Garcia
- SladieEsther Marks
- GarrenOsiris Adjepong
- EwuNazani Martin
- AndreaTatyani Lawton
- AshleySaidy Ledesma
- KofiFaith Goodwill
- ShakiraNicole Mercedes
- VeronOrlando Gordon
- TaniaGrace Goodwill
- AaronLuke Goodwill
- AlrickKemar Matthews
- CrystalNyaja Porter
The Visitation
- ProphetAaron See Yuen
- N’ZingaNicole Mercedes
- Shaka ZuluAI
- Malcolm XAaron See Yuen
- Martin Luther King Jr.Kyle Carter
- Marcus GarveyWarren Witter
The Demonstration
- KarloffAntonio Gordon
- ObiOsiris Adjepong
- SladieEsther Marks
- VeronOrlando Gordon
- NicoleTatyani Lawton
- KebraSaidy Ledesma
- KofiFaith Goodwill
- LaiannaShiann Melton
- DanaNazani Martin
- CrystalNyaja Porter
The Company
Tatyani Lawton · Warren Witter · Renee Lemond · Aaron See Yuen · Kyle Carter · Leah DeAbreu-Goodwill · Luke Goodwill · Nyaja Porter · Faith Goodwill · Saidy Ledesma · Esther Marks · Grace Goodwill · Kemar Matthews · Osiris Adjepong · Nazani Martin · Shiann Melton · Amir Garcia
Creative Team & Crew
Lola Lenore Louis — Playwright & Founder (1945–2023)
Carolyn “Meckha” Cherry — Director & Costume Designer
Leah DeAbreu Goodwill — Director & Original Cast Member
Shakira DeAbreu — Co-Director & Original Cast Member
Arnela TenMeer — Stage Manager
Sajari Hume — Production Designer / Manager
Producers & Supporters
Executive Producers
Ann Lemond-Hume, Juicy Media Group
Associate Producers
The Louis Family
Production Element Sponsors
Angela Louis King · Cecil “Binky” Louis
Friends of the Production
Rose Wallace · Gregory Wallace · Carren Cain-West · James Calizaire
In-Kind Contributors
Theresa O’Neal Redd
Production Assistants
Oliver Heaton · Brianna Fodera
Board of Directors
- Ann Lemond-Hume — Artistic & Executive Director, Chairman
- Garrick Louis — Vice Chairman
- Renee Lemond — Treasurer
- Margaret Walker-Cumberbatch — Secretary
Special Thanks
Tackice Mundle · Patricia Rudicel · Quincy Smith · Nancy Fields · Fredericka Bell-Berti · Harvey & Barbara Katzeff · Fely Simms · Omega Norton-Crable · Hasani Ekundayo · Priscilla Crowell
“I make this donation in loving memory of my three sisters: Lois, Lola and Judy. We were all involved in the arts in various forms from an early age. Lois was our first leader, then Lola, Judy, and I were the followers. With much love and blessings.”
— Angela Louis King
This production is dedicated in loving memory of Lola Lenore Louis (1945–2023), whose vision, passion, and commitment to artistic excellence continue to inspire everything we do.
“The arts are the best insurance policy a city can take on itself.” — Woody Dumas