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Burning Coal and TÉA Artistry's Must-See Production
of Being Chaka Is Phenomenal: Entertaining,
Enlightening, Educational, Motivating, and Uplifting

Cutting to the chase: Being Chaka is phenomenal! It checks all of the boxes that I consider essential for quality theater -- it's entertaining, enlightening, educational, and motivating. As a bonus, it checks the "optional" box: uplifting.

Burning Coal Theatre Company has partnered with TÉA Artistry to produce Being Chaka. The script was written by Tara Amber, Chuk Obasi, & Nalini Sharma of TÉA Artistry. This production is directed by Vieve Radha Price and Chuk Obasi, with production stage manager Julianna Frasca.

English teachers would classify Being Chaka as a "coming-of-age story," but it is quite deeper, much richer, and (yes) more diverse than any story classified as such that I can recall. This is not only because there is evidence of change in every one of the characters, but also because the play insists that true "being" is ideally a dynamic state of "becoming," and that it is in everyone's best interest for all of us to continue to "become." The issue of identity is explored from a multitude of perspectives, including personal, cultural, racial, social, and economic identity, and the issues of ownership and appropriation emerge.

In addition, the script is rife with parallels as various characters undergo similar and contrasting experiences, thereby refining our impressions of the events.

Jarred Pearce stars as Chaka in Being Chaka at Burning Coal (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Play:

Chaka is a 16-year-old African American student who has recently transferred from an inner-city high school to an elite private school in Manhattan. How will he fare as a fish-out-of-water?

To complicate matters, Chaka is grieving the loss of his father (who died of sickle cell disease), and there is a question of whether the doctors were actually "unable" to help him or simply "unwilling." Chaka's mother (Inaya), who is quite worried about her son, tries to be as nurturing and supportive as possible.

The theme of ability-to-help versus willingness-to-help is revisited in an interspersed series of ethereal scenes-from-the-past, involving a sick African American infant and his parents (Willy and Purilla). Their peripheral presence looms heavily over present-day events, and their "story" becomes part of Chaka's "story." (Keep an eye out for a certain "pine rocker" crib that links everything.)

We meet three of Chaka's classmates: Kunzang (a spirited Asian American girl) and the white brother-sister duo of Ethan and Maddy. Chaka and Kunzang are both scholarship students, whereas Ethan and Maddy are children of the newly divorced Caroline (who is a wealthy benefactor of the school).

We also meet three faculty members: Analisa (an African American teacher), Gunnar (a white teacher/P.E. coach who is also a musician), and Mrs. K (the school principal with roots in India).

We witness several interactions among students at the school as well as between the students and the faculty. Watch for the contrast between the "affinity group" led by Analisa and that led by Gunnar.

With only the best intentions, the school is encouraging students to think about the various types of identity and about how the students, as individuals, fit in as pieces of the bigger picture. The subject of racism is also addressed. Attitudes clash, and we witness episodes illustrating that "Teenagers will be teenagers" and eventually come face-to-face with a broader truism: "People will be people."

A certain letter-to-the-editor sent to The New York Times and the apparent theft of a "main auction item" at the school's fundraiser bring everything to a head.

Being Chaka stars Christa Irby as Annalisa and Jarred Pearce as Chaka (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Acting:

As is often the case, this Burning Coal production includes a blend of local and "imported" actors. This ensemble is, indeed, tightly blended, and every performance is memorable.

Jarred Pearce has set a personal peak in his portrayal of Chaka, infusing the character with passion and resolve.

Gabby Morrell, as Kunzang, is also quite impressive. Pearce and Morrell both deftly add elements of humor to their performances without ever "playing it for laughs."

Joey Brenneman originated the role of Caroline in TÉA Artistry's NYC production in 2023. Although Caroline is, in the scheme of the play, an "antagonist," Brenneman keeps her character somewhat sympathetic throughout.

Andrew Carlile presents a multidimensional Gunnar, with whom it is easy to identify. Carlile's musical skills are showcased in a key scene.

Hunter Crone (as Ethan) and Emma Elizabeth Stone (as Maddy) are delightfully paired as the privileged white brother and sister who have issues of their own.

Christa Irby's calm, level-headed Annalisa is a kind of lodestar for us in the world of the play.

As Ms. K, Amanda Marikar shows the difficulties faced by leaders of educators, leaders who are answerable to their staff, their students, the parents, and the community, as well as to their own convictions about the profession.

Miriam Yisrael Tabb infuses Inaya with the "motherliness" and concern necessary for the role.

Nikki Dublin Turner as Purilla and Joe Reese as Willy are both riveting as the peripheral, ghostly couple whose presence is constantly felt by Chaka. Speaking very little, Reese and Turner tell quite a bit of their story. Keep an eye out for an especially poignant scene following the death of their baby in which Turner's physicality is showcased.

Being Chaka at Burning Coal stars Emma Katherine Stone as Maddy and Hunter Crone as Ethan (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Tech:

Technical director/master electrician Barry Jaked heads up a capable team. Lighting, designed by Julianna Babcock, and sound, designed by Juan Isler, add essential highlighting to the show. A certain scene on a basketball court is a case in point.

The show is staged in-the-round. The set is a bare stage, framed as though it were a picture, onto which the actors carry furniture and props for the scenes. Notably, several seats in three of the four front rows of the audience are used for actors in several scenes. Meredith Riggan is credited as scenic change artist.

Costume designer Jennifer Gainey Ijeoma has supplied the characters with outfits appropriate to their identities.

Bri Flynn supplies the necessary properties.

Christa Irby stars as Annalisa in Being Chaka at Burning Coal (photo by Kevin Lord)

Nice Touches:

• Seating characters among front-row audience members on three sides.
• The pronounced difference between Gunnar's and Analisa's methods of carrying a folding chair.
• The use of the peripheral areas of the theater space, including the balcony.
• The intense "ghostly" feeling created at key moments.
• Postures and body language assumed by the students (especially Ethan's)
• Burning Coal's decision to limit the printed program to a single page (which includes a QR code to an online "Full Program."
• The "Plan Your Visit" page on Burning Coal's website, especially the section that deals with Accessibility.

Being Chaka at Burning Coal stars Joey Brenneman as Caroline (photo by Kevin Lord)

Memorable Lines:

• "This is some different shit!"
• "We're supposed to know the difference between real danger and ... discomfort."
• "... ain't able to tell the difference between living and surviving."
• "You don't own your own body here."
• "Is dad really never coming back?"
• "That's all I need from you -- be honest."
• "In Jim Crow America, they pretended to be black to be safe."
• "... positive individual making progress ...."
• "Story is power ... the thread that weaves through time."

Being Chaka at Burning Coal stars Joseph Reese as Willy and Nikki Dublin Turner as Purilla (photo by Kevin Lord)

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

Perhaps, I have been spoiled; but I always appreciate it when a company chooses to include photos of the cast in the "Cast Bio" section. These photos can be found in a Burning Coal Facebook post slideshow.

Being Chaka at Burning Coal stars Andrew Price Carlile as Gunnar and Gabby Morell as Kunzang (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Bottom Line:

Again, this show "checks all the boxes." I heartily recommend it and classify it as a "must see."

Tara Amber, Chuk Obasi, & Nalini Sharma's BEING CHAKA (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 16, 20-23, and 27-30), created by TÉA Artistry, directed by Vieve Radha Price and Chuk Obasi and starring Joey Brenneman as Caroline, Andrew Price Carlile as Gunnar, Hunter Crone as Ethan, Christa Irby as Annalisa, Amanda Marikar as Ms. K, Gabby Morrell as Kunzang, Jarred Pearce as Chaka, Joe Reese as Willy, Emma Elizabeth Stone as Maddy, Miriam Yisrael Tabb as Inaya, and Nikki Dublin Turner as Purilla (Burning Coal Theatre Company and TÉA Artistry in the Murphey School Auditorium in Raleigh). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://burningcoal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BEING-CHAKA-digital-program.pdf. PODCAST WITH DIRECTORS: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9ycjf-18309c3. BURNING COAL VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/@BurningCoaltc. CREATOR/PRESENTER (TÉA Artistry): https://www.tea-artistry.org/, https://linktr.ee/teaartistry_, and https://www.instagram.com/teaartistry_/. PRESENTER (Burning Coal Theatre Company): https://burningcoal.org/, https://www.facebook.com/burningcoaltheatrecompany, https://www.instagram.com/burningcoaltc/, https://twitter.com/burningcoaltc, and https://www.youtube.com/@BurningCoaltc. PODCASTS: https://burningcoal.podbean.com/. 2024-25 MAINSTAGE SEASON: https://burningcoal.org/now-playing/season-28/. VENUE: https://burningcoal.org/plan-your-visit/ and https://burningcoal.org/history-of-the-murphey-school/. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://burningcoal.org/plan-your-visit/. ACCESSIBILITY: https://burningcoal.org/accessibility/. BEING CHAKA (2023 New Ohio Theatre/IRT Theater play): https://www.tea-artistry.org/beingchaka, https://newohiotheatre.org/programs/vieve-radha-price-chuk-obasi/, and https://irttheater.org/3b-development-series/being-chaka-2/. STUDY GUIDE: https://burningcoal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Beingchakasg.pdf. TICKETS: $30 ($20 students, teachers, and active-duty military personnel, and $25 seniors 65+), except $20 Thursday Special and $5 Thursdays and Fridays for students 18 and under with ID. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-834-4001 or info@burningcoal.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: TÉA Artistry and Burning Coal Theatre Company.

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