Wannabe

by James J. Johnson

WANNABE is a hilarious, semiautobiographical exploration of the resilience of youth, friendship, and dreams across a rugged landscape -- the 80s and 90s.

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Wannabe

Character Information

ACTOR 1 - JAY - African-American Male
ACTOR 2 - QUINTON - African-American Male
ACTOR 3 - OOBIE/DAD - African-American Male
ACTOR 4 - CASSIE - African-American Female, brown-to-dark skinned
ACTOR 5 - GRANDMOTHER/SASHA - African-American Female
ACTOR 6 - AARON- White Male
ACTOR 7 - MELODY/BARBARA MANDRELL - Jewish/White Female

Jay

Marches to the beat of his own drum. Wide-eyed, naïve and sensitive.

Character Age

6-18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Quinton

Cool. Jay's earliest friend from childhood. Protective. Considers himself a lady’s man.

Character Age

7-19

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Oobie

Materialistic and worldly. Mispronounces words.

Character Age

6-18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Aaron

The Wannabe. Tries too hard. Unaware of how he takes up space.

Character Age

6-18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

White

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Cassie

Brown-to-dark skin. Resilient. No-nonsense and yet vulnerable.

Character Age

6-18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Melody (Mel)

Middle class. Genuine. An optimist. Comes from a liberal family.

Character Age

6-18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

White,

Jewish

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Grandmother

Cassie's grandmother. Strict. Played by same actor who plays SASHA.

Character Age

40-70

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Sasha

Speaks and acts her heart. Down-to-earth. Confident.

Character Age

6-18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black -- possibly bi-racial/multi-racial

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Dad

Jay’s father. Loving and supportive. Played by same actor who plays OOBIE.

Character Age

20-40

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

African American/Black

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Barbara Mandrell

Legendary country singer. Figment of Jay’s imagination. Played by same actor who plays MELODY (MEL).

Character Age

20-30

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

White

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman

Development History

Type Workshop, Organization Independent, Year 2020
Type Reading, 4615 Theatre Company, Year 2020
Type Workshop, Organization Independent, Year 2018
Type Reading, Organization Anacostia Arts Center, Year 2018

Production History

Type Fringe, Organization Reginald Richard, Year 2024

Awards

Best of the Fest - Fringe Audience Award

Capital Fringe Festival

Audience Choice

2024

Genre

biography,

comedy,

drama,

melodrama,

movement/physical,

period,

tragedy

Subject Matter Keywords

working class,

Virginia,

hip hop

Length

60-90 minutes,

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Characters of Color,

Centers Female Characters,

Centers LGBTQ Characters

Supporting Materials

Supporting Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfSWG-csIVY

Reviews

DC Theater Arts

“
A show with heart and conflict but also hope and resilience, WANNABE showcases the highs and lows of figuring out who you are amid all the places you’ve been.
”
MD Theatre Guide

“
J.J. Johnson has written a thoughtful, sensitive piece about growing up Black in a world that stigmatizes from a young age. He has done so while still writing compelling characters that are flawed, resilient, and can be broken, but can still hope.
”