Pipeline
by: Dominique Morisseau
February 13th - March 1st, 2026
A poetic interrogation of inequalities in our educational system
Nya, an African-American public high school teacher, sees struggling kids funneled from detention to suspension to expulsion to juvie. She’s enrolled her own son in private school in hopes of avoiding this pipeline, but he’s on the verge of being kicked out. A teacher–and mother–fights for her son’s future as the world pulls him away.
Special note: This production will take place at Umstead Park United Church of Christ.
Umstead Park UCC
8208 Brownleigh Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27617
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Pipeline explores educational racism and the school-to-prison pipeline. It features mature themes and situations including strong language, racial bias and stereotyping, class, violence against young people, conversations and thoughts about death, complex familial relationships, and educational disparity.
Meet the Team
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Devin Clark as DUN
Devin Clark (Dun) is excited to make his Raleigh debut with the Justice Theater Project in this production. This is his first show with the company, and he is thrilled to be a part of the cast. His credits include Lank in Detroit 67’ at Theatre Charlotte, Brutus in Julius Caesar for Free Reign Theatre, Othello in Othello for Belmont Abbey College, Booth in Topdog/Underdog for Shakespeare Carolina, Bud in Bud, Not Buddy at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and Styles/Buntu in Sizwe Bansi is Dead at CAST theater. Devin thanks his mother, family, friends, and the unit for their continued support.
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Terri Crymes as NYA
Terri Crymes (Nya) is a stage and film actress known for her dynamic presence and deep vocal range. She is excited to be returning to The Justice Theater Project, where she played Emily Penrose in The Lifespan of a Fact. Most recently, she was seen as Margaret in POTUS with Vixen Theatre, in Merrily We Roll Along at Burning Coal Theatre, and a "Best of 2024" recognized performance as Mrs. Muller in Doubt at Raleigh Little Theatre. Terri holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Florida. She is incredibly grateful to Nick for his unwavering love and support as she continues her passion for storytelling.
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Evit Emerson as XAVIER
Evit Emerson (Xavier) is thrilled to make his Justice Theater Project debut. Stage credits include A Beautiful Day (Mark Cornell/Full Nelson Theatre), Murder at the Disco Lounge (Leslie Pryor Productions), Ona (Odyssey Stage), and readings with Agape Theatre, NC Playwrights Lab, and Sips and Scripts. He wrote and produced the award-winning short Hey Radio Girl, with additional film/TV credits including Cristy (David Mochod), The Waterfront (Netflix), and The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (Hulu). Offstage, Evit’s all about family, friends, and good times.
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Callie Hammond as LAURIE
Callie Hammond (Laurie), a North Carolina native, has performed locally with Temple Theatre and Southern Wake Players, and has acted, directed, designed, and stage-managed across the country. After thirty years of teaching in an alternative middle/high school, Callie likes to think she combines the best parts of Laurie and Nya. She dedicates this performance to all her students who managed to make it out of the Pipeline, particularly her daughter ZiZi, who, despite her race, gender, sexual identity, and disabilities, graduated from William Peace with honors and is currently pursuing a graduate degree to become a licensed ABA therapist.
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Damarion Jones as OMARI
Damarion Jones (Omari) is thrilled to make his Justice Theater Project debut in the role of Omari. A newbie to the Triangle area theater scene, his recent credits include Sonny in Grease at Cary Players and Jim Conley in Parade at NRACT Theatre. Damarion is eager for audiences to experience the profound layers of meaning within this groundbreaking production.
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Rylee Davis as JASMINE
Rylee Davis (Jasmine) is thrilled to be part of such a brilliant cast for her Justice Theater Project debut! You may have seen her recently in Carousel (Drop Spindle, 2025) or Brigadoon (Cary Players, 2024). When she's not onstage, she likes to read and watch anime with her fiancée. Rylee would like to thank Grant and her family for supporting her and pushing her to grow as an actor.
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Amanda Almodovar, Intimacy Choreographer
Amanda Almodovar (Intimacy Choreographer, MSW, LCSW, she/her) is an intimacy and mental health professional with 15 years of experience as a social worker in various Title I schools of central NC. She is thrilled to work with The Justice Theater Project on a script that is close to her heart. Her mission in this and all shows is to create safe and responsible productions that protect the well-being of creators and preserve authentic artistic expression. Please reach out to @intimate_amanda or on intimateamanda.com.
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Jah'Mar Coakley, Assistant Director
Jah’Mar Coakley (Asst. Director) is a choreographer, director, and teaching artist originally from Charleston, SC, with credits including The Little Mermaid, Marcus or the Secret Garden of Sweet, Frozen Jr., and The Lion King Jr. Excited to share this story with a new community, Jah’Mar hopes the work sparks necessary conversations that inspire reflection.
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Sareek Hosein, Stage Manager
Sareek Hosein (Stage Manager) is very excited to stage manage his first show with The Justice Theater Project! He has worked with theaters from Texas to Indiana to the Triad and the Triangle over the last 10 years. He recently stage-managed Sweeney Todd with Summerfield Stage Company. His upcoming show will be stage managing Deathtrap with the Cary Players, where he also sits on the Board of Directors as their CFO. Sareek would like to wholeheartedly thank his wife, Erin, for supporting and uplifting him during his theater commitments.
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Amelia Lumpkin, Director
Amelia Lumpkin (Director) is a director whose work centers around social justice, ensemble collaboration, and the development of meaningful stories. Her directing credits include We Are Proud to Present… (The Justice Theater Project), My Wonderful Birthday Suit (Raleigh Little Theatre), Ona (OdysseyStage), Sonia Flew (Cary Players), Chicken & Biscuits (NRACT), and Ex-Boyfriends (Burning Coal Theatre). Amelia is honored to direct Pipeline with The Justice Theater Project and dedicates this work to her many teachers—family, friends, and mentors—who continue to shape how she listens, learns, and leads.
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Kevin McIntire, Set Designer
Kevin McIntire (Set Designer) is very excited to work on his first show with The Justice Theater Project. He has designed and/or built for Cary Players since 2022 (Grease; Addams Family, A Sherlock Carol). When not doing theater things, he enjoys playing guitar, cooking for his family, and enjoying a well-made cocktail. He thanks The Justice Theater Project for inviting him to create something beautiful in our community.
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Kishara McKnight, Costume Designer
Kishara McKnight (Costume Designer) has always had a profound love for the arts and brings that passion to every production she supports. She has served as a Costume Designer for Theatre Raleigh productions, including Oh What a Night, Peace of Clay, Yellow Face, and others. Her work with North Carolina Theatre includes Lady Day and Steel Magnolias, and she has contributed as an Associate Costumer for Dreamgirls and The Color Purple. Her recent period and contemporary work includes Odyssey Stage’s Ona and At Birth, NRACT’s Mahalia, Theatre Raleigh’s Tick, Tick… Boom! and Frozen, and The Justice Theater Project’s Fairview and Dracula: A Fem….
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Davyous Melvin, Sound Designer
Davyous Melvin (Sound Designer) is a sound designer born and raised in North Carolina. With a background in performance, he has been involved in the performing arts since the 8th grade. In recent years, he has discovered a deep passion for sound design. He has contributed sound design to Sonia Flew with the Cary Players, and to the NC Audio Play Festival with The Cary Playwrights Forum. Davyous finds great joy in supporting a show’s mission through thoughtful, complementary sound. Davyous extends sincere thanks to his mentors, Meme Simmons and Matt Hodge, for their guidance throughout his artistic journey.
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Valentina Moya, Lighting Designer
Valentina Moya (Lighting Designer) is the lighting designer for Pipeline. This is her debut with The Justice Theater Project and her third time working with director Amelia Lumpkin. Valentina has recently returned from Blippi: Join the Band! National tour as the Production Electrician. Before that, she was on the road with Hideaway Circus and Charlie Brown Christmas national tours. She is very excited to return to the North Carolina theatre scene and is pleased to be working back home with great people.
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Tim Price, Assistant Stage Manager
Tim Price (Asst. Stage Manager) is excited to be working with The Justice Theater Project on Pipeline, marking their first collaboration with the company. They have enjoyed supporting a wide range of productions, both backstage and on deck. Recent credits include Assistant Stage Manager for POTUS and Deck Crew for Cruel Intentions at NRACT. Tim is grateful to be part of this team and is proud to help bring this powerful story to the stage.
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Chanté Thompson, Props Designer & Dramaturg
Chanté Thompson (Props Designer/Dramaturg) is thrilled to be making her Justice Theater Project debut, serving as the lead props designer and dramaturg. She loves making a world come to life from behind the scenes. Thanks to her mom and fiancé for letting her be MIA so often.
Dive Deeper Events
Dive Deeper Events
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Come join Pipeline director Amelia Lumpkin and assistant director Jah’Mar Coakley before the Opening Night show to hear their insights on the production—while enjoying some free bubbly and bites!
Amelia Lumpkin (Director) is a director whose work centers around social justice, ensemble collaboration, and the development of meaningful stories. Her directing credits include We Are Proud to Present… (The Justice Theater Project), My Wonderful Birthday Suit (Raleigh Little Theatre), Ona (OdysseyStage), Sonia Flew (Cary Players), Chicken & Biscuits (NRACT), and Ex-Boyfriends (Burning Coal Theatre). Amelia is honored to direct Pipeline with The Justice Theater Project and dedicates this work to her many teachers—family, friends, and mentors—who continue to shape how she listens, learns, and leads.
Jah’Mar Coakley (Asst. Director) is a choreographer, director, and teaching artist originally from Charleston, SC, with credits including The Little Mermaid, Marcus or the Secret Garden of Sweet, Frozen Jr., and The Lion King Jr. Excited to share this story with a new community, Jah’Mar hopes the work sparks necessary conversations that inspire reflection.
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"Before the Pipeline: Early Decisions, Labels, and Lasting Consequences"
In partnership with our friends at the NC Psychological Association, his pre-show conversation invites audiences to reflect on the systems, assumptions, and early decisions that shape children’s lives long before crisis points occur. Drawing from psychology, education, and lived experience, the discussion explores how labeling, discipline practices, stress, trauma, and implicit bias can quietly influence identity, opportunity, and long-term outcomes. This talk provides conceptual context and guiding questions to help audiences engage more thoughtfully with the themes they are about to encounter on stage.
Glenn Wiggins, Jr. is a psychology graduate student, motivational speaker, and community advocate with professional experience in public safety, military service, and behavioral observation in high-stress environments. His academic background is grounded in psychology, with particular interests in systems-level thinking, human behavior, trauma, and social outcomes. Glenn brings a perspective that bridges research, real-world experience, and personal reflection, focusing on how early interventions, institutional responses, and social context shape life trajectories. He is passionate about education, prevention, and conversations that promote accountability with compassion. -
Seed Art Share is partnering with Justice Theatre Project to offer Share the Show, a arts-integrated creative childcare program that enables caregivers to bring the whole family to the show and have a shared artistic experience. This program is for ages 5-11, and occurs on Sunday, February 22 during the 3:30 pm matinee. Kids will have the opportunity to learn about the themes of the show in age-appropriate ways through a curriculum custom-designed by a theatre teaching artist.
This is a Pay What You Can childcare opportunity during the February 22nd matinee (recommended $15 donation).TO REGISTER, you will need to fill out this form 72 hours in advance. You can make whatever donation you are able to here.
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Join some of the Pipeline actors following the February 22nd matinee for a discussion of the script and their rehearsal experience. This discussion will be lead by our friends at the Cary Playwrights Forum!
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"Schools, Policy, and the Path to Opportunity"
Before the performance, join us for a preshow conversation with Yevonne Brannon that explores the real-world policy issues shaping the world of Pipeline. Brannon will offer context on one of the play’s central tensions, the idea that private schools may offer better opportunities for students. She will walk through key differences between public and private schools, including financial accountability, quality of education, and the protections required for students in each system. The discussion will also address North Carolina’s current universal voucher policy and what it means for families, schools, and communities across the state.
This conversation will help audiences better understand how education policy, funding, and oversight intersect with the themes of the play, and how decisions about where and how we educate children shape opportunity, equity, and access.Yevonne Brannon received her Ph.D. in sociology from NC State University and is the Director of the Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services at NCSU. Prior to this position, she was a social worker and taught at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Dr. Brannon has been involved in child and public education advocacy work throughout her life including serving for four years as a Wake County Commissioner. She is a founding member of several nonprofit organizations, including WakeUp Wake County, Great Schools In Wake Coalition, Friends of Lake Johnson, Friends of Athens Drive Community Library, and, most recently, Public Schools First NC.
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Before the performance of Pipeline, join us for a preshow conversation with Dasan Ahanu, a local poet, activist, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of art, education, and community care. Drawing from his experiences writing and performing spoken word, Dasan will share how poetry has shaped his work with teens through teaching, coaching, and trauma-informed programs that center creative expression as a healthy outlet. He will also reflect on themes of Black masculinity, emotional expression, and the ways the arts can support young people navigating systems, pressure, and expectation. This conversation offers meaningful context and lived insight to help audiences step into the world of Pipeline with deeper understanding and curiosity.
Christopher Massenburg, better known as Dasan Ahanu, is a public speaker, organizer, curator, educator, poet, and spoken word artist born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is co-founder and managing director of Black Poetry Theatre, a Durham based theatre company that creates and produces original poetry and spoken word based productions. As an active participant in poetry slam, Dasan has competed regionally and nationally as a founding member and coach of Durham, NC’s own Bull City Slam Team. He also works with teenagers to encourage their participation in spoken word and slam poetry. Dasan is a visiting professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, teaching courses on hip-hop and Black culture. He has authored four poetry collections, The Innovator (HWJW Publishing, 2010), Freedom Papers (HWJW Publishing, 2012), Everything Worth Fighting For: An exploration of being Black in America (Flowered Concrete, 2016), and Shackled Freedom: Black Living in the Modern American South (Willow Books, 2021). You can learn more about his work at dasanahanu.com.