Jackson State University senior Jimmy Lee is about to get his fifteen minutes of fame. Lee wrote, and is producing, directing and hosting a performance of his play, "Dangerously in Love," on Thursday, Nov. 11 at JSU's University Park Auditorium as a fund raiser for JSU's American Marketing Association.
Lee, who is also Mr. Senior and president of the association, described the play as a "comedic drama" that touches on real-life issues like "STD/HIV prevention, family values and pre-marital sex." Lee sees the performance as not merely a way to raise money for his campus club, but also as a way to raise awareness of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and pre-marital sex.
"Honestly, I want people to take heed to the message, and I hope it will open peoples' eyes." He hopes the play will reach the JSU student body as well as the greater Jackson community.
Monique Williams, a senior marketing major at JSU who plays the part of Mama Gloria says, "Not only was I very happy that my classmate wrote this play, I was excited that it sheds a positive light on African American males in our community." This play is unique, Williams says, by not being something only for drama or speech majors to be involved in, but it has a diverse cast, allowing students from different backgrounds to better connect.
"Luckily, on audition night, we had education majors, chemistry majors, political science majors. That gave our students another chance to interact," Williams notes.
Lee says, "We actually had a wonderful turn-out [at auditions]. It was difficult to match some characters, and some it wasn't. We wanted the right people matched with the right character."
Williams, who hasn't had time to perform any drama in college until now, describes her character by saying, "She's protective, a concerned parent. She loves her family. She's hilarious."
Lee summarizes the moral of his play: "What's done in the dark eventually comes to light. Decisions can affect people around you. Not only do we talk about catching STDs, but also prevention." The play's title, he says, "represents the pressure: you're in love, but your love could be deadly."
The young playwright wants to address something positive in the community by portraying a realistic situation people can learn from, by presenting something with a message, as well as humor. "Everything is so sexually explicit" in the media, Lee says, meaning that children know more than they are given credit for.
"Dangerously in Love" is Lee's second play to be performed. His last, "No Good Comes to Those Who Do Wrong," was performed at Murrah High School when he was a student there.
Tickets to see the play, $5 in advance and $8 at the door are also raffle tickets to win a DVD player, dinner at Red Lobster or two movie passes. The one-time showing starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11. Call 979-2272 for ticket info.
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