Hometown Playwright to Premiere Her Dream
A writer for as long as she can remember, Halifax County resident Joan Daniel Whitlock used to be shy about letting people see what she’d written. Not anymore. Her independently-produced play “Mama’s Pearls” is set to premiere on the big stage at Halifax County High School’s auditorium October 9-11.
Third of eight children, a wife, mother to “five handsome adult sons,” and a grandmother, Whitlock has many relatives and values her family responsibilities. But she always wanted to do more with her writing.
A creative writing class at the former Founders College increased her confidence. Writing professor Dr. Bryan Niblett encouraged Whitlock, who afterwards had the courage to put a poem in the newspaper. “That class gave me the courage to step out and do what I’d always dreamed of doing,” she says. In 2007 she decided “to clean the dust off my play and forge ahead with production.”
It hasn’t been easy. “Proceeding with production proved to be a daunting and challenging experience. The doors were jammed shut and not opening for me. I wondered if doing what I love was the right thing to do. Finally, after a couple of readings facilitated by a newfound angel of a friend, Fred Motley, I was able to gather the beginnings of a terrific and very talented cast,” says Whitlock.
But then colon cancer struck in 2008. Meanwhile, Whitlock’s husband Melvin was laid off from his job of twelve years and health insurance was canceled. After years of caring for others, Whitlock says she had to think about “taking care of me.”
“I never looked at having cancer as a death sentence,” says Whitlock. Instead, it “gave me gumption to continue to live-to do my life the way I planned it-and according to God’s will for me. I knew that the show must go on. I forged ahead with no money, just barely scraping by but with a dream and a vision.”
True to Whitlock’s life experience, “Mama’s Pearls” is about family. ”Children of the late Mae Emma Jamerson are looking for their mother’s rare pearls. Nowhere to be found, the accusations soon begin to fly,” says Whitlock.”I can’t really say where the exact idea for the play came from. I guess it would be a little–maybe a lot–from my family, and my observations of other families.” The play includes joy and laugher as well as anger and sadness. Whitlock hopes that audiences will “connect with family and come away with a different perspective. We must look beyond the view that is before us,” she says.
Local arts enthusiasts familiar with the script praise “Mama’s Pearls.” Theater veteran and high school theater teacher Greg Donner read Whitlock’s play in the early stages and was “impressed with the writing. Her dialogue and character development were very strong.” With an “element of mystery,” Whitlock crafted “a story that not only makes audiences want to know the outcome, but also builds on strong family values,” Donner says.
Jayne Pennington, who was Senior Vice President of Faculty and Administration at Founders College while Whitlock studied writing there, attended a full-cast reading of the play last summer. “I saw the potential then, but more than that, Joan’s determination to make this play happen. The real story behind most authors on the best sellers list, and most successful playwrights, is persistence and determination. I hope to be in the audience cheering Joan on in October.”
Born in Halifax County, playwright Joan D. Whitlock is the daughter of Catherine E. Daniel and the late Akra L. Daniel, Sr. Raised in Baltimore, MD, she later returned to Halifax County. In the late 1990’s Whitlock owned “The Vine and the Branch,” a health foods store in Roxboro, NC. She recently played “Mama” in Halifax County Little Theater’s production of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
Directing “Mama’s Pearls” is comedian, actor, director and playwright Howard G of Baltimore with Whitlock as producer. Catherine Burns is assistant to the producer. Cast members include Brenda E. Harris and James B. Harris of Blairs, Va; Karla Mitchell, Roderick “Rocky” Shepherd, and LaQuita Lipscomb of Roxboro, NC; Vencentia “Boo” Williams, Annette “Angie” Cheek and Patricia Coleman of Halifax County; Timothy “Moses” Malone of Danville, Yvette Urquhart of Long Island, VA, and Allan Keech of South Boston.
“Mama’s Pearls” will run October 9-11 with showtimes Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 and 8:00, and Sunday at 3:00 at Halifax County High School Auditorium. Portions of the proceeds will benefit the Halifax County Cancer Association, the Halifax County Rescue Squad, and the Good Shepherd Food Program. Advance tickets ($15) are available at Boo-tiq and Sunil’s on Halifax Road, Odessa’s in the Venture Center on Factory Street, South Boston; and Angie’s Hat Shop, 125 N. Union St. in Danville.
Help is still needed building the set and assisting backstage. Sponsors are also needed at levels from $25-100. For more information, contact playwright Joan D. Whitlock at (434) 579-5745.