Boulevard of Bold Dreams

We are quickly approaching the Oscars, where the 95th Academy Awards will be at Dolby Theater at the Hollywood & Highland Center on March 12, 2023. TimeLine Theatre takes us on a historical journey to February 29, 1940. It's the 12th Academy Awards ceremony, and a young woman named Hattie McDaniel, an actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian, was honored by Hollywood in her role as a "Mammy" in Gone with the Wind. She made history as the first African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and the first African American to be nominated. Although this was an extraordinary accomplishment, on the night of one of the most significant moments of her life, McDaniel, who had faced a tumultuous backlash of racism, discrimination, and segregation throughout her life and career, couldn't even sit with her 'Gone With the Wind' colleagues during the movie premiere at the Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta on December 15, 1939, because it was a "White's Only" theater. Yet, despite the hostile responses, Hattie McDaniel made it her mission to combat the difficulties and worked hard to change the narrative for future black actors. 

The World Premiere of Boulevard of Bold Dreams at Timeline Theater gives us a glimpse of the pivotal night at the Oscars hours before it begins at the Ambassador Hotel. The play opens with bartender Arthur Brooks (Charles Andrew Gardner) setting up the hotel bar room for the guest coming after the ceremonies. Arthur, an aspiring movie producer, grabs a glass that he believes looks like a trophy and accepts his imaginary award — and Dottie Hudson (Mildred Marie Langford), Arthur's childhood friend who followed him to Hollywood, enters the room. She laughs at Arthur for being the constant dreamer and tries to reel him into the realization that his dream of making it in Hollywood is not for the black man. As Dottie leaves to attend to one of the guests, Hattie McDaniel, seeking to escape the crowd, walks into the hotel's bar, looking for peace and comfort. There she meets Arthur and begins to share her struggles with staying for the ceremonies because of the backlash she is receiving from whites and even her own people. Arthur tries to convince McDaniel to attend, sighting the significant accomplishments she has made for blacks— but after sharing more details and her ultimate insult of having to sit at a segregated table in another room and having to read an acceptance speech written for her if she won the coveted award; Arthur looks for assurance from Dottie, who entered the bar through a service door.  Hudson, dealing with her own issues, hears about Hattie McDaniel's struggles and agrees she shouldn't attend. She cites that McDaniel's role as a maid was degrading and understands why people complained about her— but when McDaniel tells Dottie you are hiding something, the dialogue opens up to a level so powerful and enthralling, you could hear a pen drop within the audience, who was hanging on to every word. 

We have had the pleasure of seeing some excellent African-American plays (The Ripple, The Wave, That Carried Me Home, Toni Stone, Lady Day) and now Boulevard of Bold Dreams during Black History Month (BHM), which is exciting and troubling. The troubling part is that with the plethora of outstanding black playwrights, plays, and actors in theater, we should have more accessibility to their exceptional talents in major cities year around and not sporadically or just during BHM. Boulevard of Bold Dreams illustrates the excellence in playwriting, directing, and acting that gets hidden because of racism, discrimination, and segregated audiences, who get blinded by historical racism. Yet, it's such a well-written, riveting play audiences shouldn't miss.  Gardner, Langford, and Lott-Rogers are masterful, desiring awards for great chemistry, passion, and performance. Gardner's positivity will make anyone believe in their dreams, and making her debut at Timeline, Lott-Rogers gave us a brilliant look at Hattie McDaniel's trepidation of being a future historical figure. However, company member Langford blew us away with her incredible acting during one scene where she goes on a rant, ridiculing and scolding McDaniel. This scene between Langford and Lott-Rogers is priceless, and their vocals are fantastic.  

Exploring today's social and political issues through the lens of the past, Timeline Theatre does a fantastic job featuring plays with people of color. Their entry into the theater features examples of blacks who had won an Academy Award since Hattie McDaniel—which many walked past, and even one person whispered, "They will never catch up with us!"    

Boulevard of Bold Dreams runs for 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission, but if you listen to each actor's emotional struggles, you will want to see more. 

McDaniel, who also became the star of a radio show, the Beulah Show, was like many historical blacks figures (Stepin Fetchit, Mantan Moreland, Alvin Childress, and Spencer Williams, McDaniel didn't want the backlash of racism, discrimination, and being ostracized of other blacks for playing controversial characters that many viewed degraded the black community. Still, Boulevard of Bold Dreams' glowing production solidifies that we should applaud their triumph over racism.    

Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Boulevard of Bold Dreams at Timeline Theatre. 

Timeline Theater Company

World Premiere Boulevard of Bold Dreams

Written by LaDarrion Williams

Directed by Malkia Stampley

February 9 – March 19, 2023