Jeanine Jones
Edited by Book Ends INC. 2/6/2026
Zora the Brave teleports us through time and history, thru the eyes of Little Zora (Marrisa Gilliam), a 5th grade student who is ridiculed because of who she is and where she is from as she presents her report on Zora Neale Hurston (Ce’quita Monique) her mother’s favorite author. Little Zora is crushed by her cruel classmates teasing as she succumbs to defeat believing them and the untrue narrative they gave her about herself. The image her peers taunted becomes her own image of herself. That is, until she encounters a very special visitor and travels through the vivid pages of the works of the literary great Zora Neale Huston and witnesses love, feels water and wind, and dances with Isie. Little Zora is reluctant to take Big Zora’s advice. She is very displeased with her untimely intrusive presence in her life.
Little Zora starts to mesh into the magic of Big Zora as they start to vibe with one another in their one-of-a-kind Zora to Zora moments, the two characters find strength and pull power from one another to carry the torch and the legacy of a literary legend to the current generation and the next, as they tell their story to each other.
Seasoned with the salt and the vernacular of the Harlem Renaissance and today’s slang of North Memphis’ Little Zora, “they playing in my face”, she says of her peers and all that do not see her. The play reaches fresh young ears and eyes. The simplistic set of perfection and befitting wardrobe filled with rich hues, technological animated graphics in the background, and the vibrant voices and creative choices of the actresses left no crumbs on this phenomenal, inspirational journey.
Audience members experience this captivating journey as well, finding the history and work of the literary genius, Zora Neale Hurston within the Memphis community through the pen of Memphis’ own, Ostrander award winning playwright Ann C. Perry.
Zora (Little and Big) finds her voice, her power, through a heritage trail like no other. The Orpheum Theater, Halloran Center welcomed Zora the Brave to Memphis Thursday, February 5th for two matinee shows engaging everyone within stage view of the black boxed, red seated theatre. Libertas and Middle College were a part of the energetic, attentive audience. During the Q and A session the young people asked thought-provoking questions and shared how powerful and inspired they felt as a result of experiencing the show. However, the most humorous query was asked about a snippet of a song that was played at the end of the show after Little Zora ripped the mic with a powerful spoken word poem that referenced one of the “baddest” rappers in the history of Hip-Hop. While the more seasoned audience members danced, bobbed their heads, and joined in singing “I’m Bad” by legendary rapper LL Cool J, an inquisitive young scholar from Libertas questioned “What was that music?” (referring to the popular rap song). To his curiosity another responded, “A rapper from the 1900’s.” You can imagine the laughter from the seasoned folks in the audience. Little Zora also engaged the audience in a call and response tune. She and Big Zora shared a beautiful synergy of song, poetry, history and history in the making.
This story of empowerment and the courage to explore your history, highlights an influential African American woman in literary history, albeit posthumously, the message transcends beyond African-Americans and women to any individual exploring their own purpose when the naysayers say you are not who you know you are. Brought to us by the Brilliant Ann C. Perry and Director Taylor St. John, Zora the Brave is a must see for all ages. Ann C. Perry, we see you and “we cannot play in your face”. Thank you for awakening Drenched Light. The show will be performed in Miami, February 6th. For more information on this beautiful gem of a show, visit POSTPONED: Zora the Brave | The Orpheum Theatre Group. For more information on the brilliant creative Ann C. Perry who is an equally gifted actress, visit Home | Ann C Perry.
Note: The show’s debut was postponed due to inclement weather in Memphis and the surrounding Mid-South area. However, it could not stop the storm of Zora the Brave. While it was written for younger audiences, Ann awakes Zora in another play, Live Rich Die Poor, Zora Awakening ( See Ann in Live Rich Die Poor, Zora Awakening February 20th at The Orpheum Memphis Halloran Center) POSTPONED: Live Rich Die Poor, Zora… | The Orpheum Theatre Group
The prolific writing of Ann Wallace took theater goers into the life of the incomparable Zora Neale Hurston during Women’s History Month. Wallace embodied the unsung literary heroine as she read the words she wove together over an 18 year period. The project on Hurston’s life and work is an awesome phenomenon like no other. Wallace, the playwright of the one woman show, intertwined her original words seamlessly with only a small percentage of Hurston’s work. It was like Zora, Langston, and Harlem were there at Theatre South. The vivid images Mrs. Wallace’s words illustrates takes us to Zora’s hometown, to some of to the many places she had been, to see some of the many things she had done, and to Harlem, the “heaven on earth” melting pot for Black creatives of the arts at the time of the “Black Renaissance”. The most resonating thing perhaps, might be the treatment of and disregard for women in those times that are still prevalent today. As an audience member you might leave curious, wanting to know how much influence Hurston had on Hughes’ work, wondering what if she had received the high standard of illustrious, literary fame she more than well deserved, and how the love and treatment or mistreatment from the only family you have can build you up, or break you down. Throughout the reading “Jump at the Sun” is what a young Zora remembered her mother saying to her often. She held on to those words, and became who she became. The quote seemed to connect with the theme/title “Live Rich Die Poor”, meaning you cannot take anything on this side of life with you to death, so live life to the fullest degree that you can, in its entirety, happily, free, and unapologetically. The playwright’s message was alive and thought provoking. Wallace has crafted a “must-experience” that will enrich the love for theatre and literature in all.