Please Join Us for a FEATURE READING of THE ASSASSINATION OF A DREAM DEFERRED by Chima Chikazunga.
Monday, March 23, 2026 · 7:30pm (“House Opens” at 7:00pm)
Written & Directed by Chima Chikazunga
Stage Manager: Yemisi Odetoyinbo
Featuring…
KIERRA – Christine Komei Luo
SOPHIE / THERAPIST – Marjorie Johnson
DOMINIQUE – Cristina Villalobos Ureña
CHIMA / CHAUNCEY / FOREIGN VOICE – Travis Raeburn
ABOUT THE PLAY
Trapped between worlds, a confused spirit returns to the living just as her granddaughter attempts to repair a fractured relationship in couples therapy after plans to bring a child into the world are placed on hold —only to uncover a buried emotional wound that must be healed before any of them can move forward.
THE ASSASINATION OF A DREAM DEFERRED was a Semi-finalist for the 3rd Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival.
$10 Suggested Donation — or become a Patron to support Blackboard’s work on a monthly basis.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: CHIMA CHIKAZUNGA
Chima Chikazunga is an FSU alumnus. His audio play An Icon’s Belief in Fallen Soldiers was commissioned by The Classical Theatre of Harlem. Echoes of a Lost Son won the 2019 Public Access Television Award and was recognized in the Resilience New Play Festival. His published work appears in Best Women’s and Men’s Monologues 2022 and Best American Short Plays 2018–2019.
NOT JUST YOU received a micro-grant from National Black Theatre to workshop. 1 Letter Shy of Coincidence was a Semi-Finalist for the 46th Annual BAPF. As an actor, Chima is a Winner of the 2022 Fresh Fruit Festival’s Monologue Competition, and has worked with Rattlestick Playwrights (Addressless) and New Federal Theatre (Dutchman).
Selected Full-Length Plays: 3 The Hard Way (11th Annual DUTF, MITF 2016); Sophie’s Sweet 16 (TFNC DREAM UP FESTIVAL 13); For Chance (TFNC DREAM UP FESTIVAL 14); The Accidental Kiss (TFNC DREAM UP FESTIVAL 15, 24); Best Kept Secret (Reading – New City, New Blood Series, TFNC); Touch My Heart Masterpiece (Reading – New City, New Blood Series, TFNC); Echoes of a Lost Son (Reading – DREAM UP FESTIVAL 18); NOT JUST YOU — AND Theatre Co. ’17, ’18 (starring Austin Pendleton); NOT JUST YOU (Workshop/Micro Development Grant – National Black Theatre).
Selected Short Plays / One Acts: 3 Echoes (Short Play Festival, NYC); The Eye of the Wake (Ecclectics Festival, 2019); Convenience (NYMadness); Echoes of a Lost Son workshop, Cell Theatre NYC (AWOW, 2018); The Eye of the Wake (Midtown Fringe Festival, 2016); We Re-Member – Leela Festival; Terrance – QED. Short film for The Breath Project: ME OR YOU. Has directed the audio play Shapes and Stanzas for R5 Productions.
ABOUT THE CAST
Cristina Villalobos Ureña (Dominique)
Cristina is a multi-hyphenate artist from Puriscal, Costa Rica, working in acting, directing, playwriting, and dance. A University of Costa Rica graduate and Atlantic Acting School alumna, she most recently made her NYC debut with her one-woman show The Sisterhood at The Tank.
Travis Raeburn (Chima / Chauncey / Foreign Voice)
Travis Raeburn is a first-generation Grenadian-Haitian actor. He was recently honored at MCC’s 25 Years Miscast alongside Sheryl Lee Ralph for his accomplishments in theater and education. Selected theatre credits include Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s By The Queen and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; MCC Theater’s Soft; Packages O’ The Things We Deliver with The National Black Theatre; Acting Company’s national tour of Romeo & Juliet / Three Musketeers; and In The Southern Breeze at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.
On screen, his credits include Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Only Murders in the Building (new season), the film Moonluck Wonton, Survival of the Thickest, and First Match on Netflix. He has appeared in commercials for MasterCard USA, Xfinity, and Pop Tarts. His self-published poetry collection, Kill Me In My Innocence, is available now. Training: SUNY Purchase BFA Acting and LaGuardia Arts High School (Drama). Instagram: @travierae
Christine Komei Luo (Kierra / Stage Manager)
Christine Komei Luo was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance with a minor in Dance and Education, and a Master’s in General and Special Education. Favorite credits include Coming of Age in Korea, Taming of the Shrew, and Happy Hour. She is also a NYC DOE teacher and a brown belt in jiu jitsu.
Looking forward to having you!
