Nicole Sumlin offers a fair view of the Black experience.
Written by Evan Peters
"Having important conversations around these topics can initiate a ripple effect that can make space for positive change to happen.”
Beverly, an African American woman, is throwing a birthday dinner for her mother, surrounded by her family. As the family is getting ready for the party in an upper middle class home, Beverly receives a call from her brother, telling her that he will not be able to attend due to conflict.
With tension building, the family continues to prepare for the party and has fun while doing so. Suddenly, Beverly realizes the cake for her mother has burnt, causing her to faint at the end of Act One.
The Cleveland State University (CSU) theatre and dance department will be performing “Fairview,” a drama written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, that follows an African American family as they prepare for a family member’s birthday dinner. When met with devastating news, the play takes an unexpected turn. Commenting on racial tensions in the United States, a group of white friends give their input on race while watching the family.
The play demonstrates white supremacy taking on different forms and comments on letting Black people tell their own story without white people controlling the narrative.
Nicole Sumlin is the director of the CSU production of “Fairview.” Sumlin is an African American woman and the director of education at Cleveland Public Theatre. She has been a professional actor since 2012, including performances at Playhouse Square and in New York. Sumlin has extensive background in music and theater.
Starting at a young age, Sumlin began singing in choirs, eventually performing in her school’s musicals. Sumlin then got her education degree from Wheaton College in Illinois, working at their Conservatory of Music to get a minor in music as well. She coaches and teaches music and theater techniques and was a faculty adjunct member at Baldwin Wallace University in their theater department.
While Sumlin has a substantial resume, this will be her first time working with the theater department at CSU and directing a play at Playhouse Square. Sumlin shared that, not only is she excited to direct and work with talented artists, but also to direct such an impactful piece of art.
“Through humor and bold truth, Jackie Sibbles Drury expertly takes us on a journey full of twists and turns, ultimately requiring us to be honest about how we see ourselves, how we see those around us and how that affects our actions,” Sumlin said. “The play explores white supremacy and racism in such an innovative, impactful way.”
Sumlin described why the takeaway from the play is important to her as a Black woman.
“It’s important to explore how these systems designed to leave people of color out, specifically Black as we’re exploring in this play, affect everyone. Having important conversations around these topics can initiate a ripple effect that can make space for positive change to happen,” she said. “I say often that we don’t all have the same work to do, but we all have work to do.”
Sumlin believes that this play will allow for people to have an honest conversation with themselves about how they may contribute to this system. She’s confident that in their work, the cast and crew will bring the artistic vision to life.
Rehearsals began on Jan. 13, with five to six weeks to prepare this show. Thanks to her team who has helped the department stay on track, they’ve been able to stick to their rehearsal schedule.
The show opened on Feb. 20, but Sumlin doesn’t want the play to only be important because it was featured during Black History Month. She wants people to know that Black stories are necessary 365 days a year, but celebrating them during Black History Month is a bonus.
Sumlin elaborated on why those stories are necessary every day, as the lives of “people who have been historically excluded become devalued,” but she believes that CSU students can change that.
“CSU students are our future leaders,” Sumlin said. “Our future leaders need to engage in the conversations that this play will spark so they can continue to find their place in work being done to repair what’s been broken for centuries. I’m grateful that they will have the opportunity to witness a piece of art that requires us to stop, look and listen.”
Drury’s play won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated in several categories for the 2019 Drama Desk Awards. To see CSU’s rendition of this award winning play, you can purchase tickets for any of the eight showtimes available on the Playhouse Square website.
CSU students can receive tickets for $5 using promo code “STUCSU” at checkout. The CSY theatre and dance department will be performing “Fairview” the weekends of Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 27 through March 2.