From left, Mason School of Theater students Rachael McNutt (Laurie), Jalen Whitmore (Nya) and Myles Earley (Dun) perform a scene in “Pipeline” at the Harris Theater in Fairfax, Va. on March 24. The scene captures Nya confronting the obstacles of her professional and personal life. (DJ Corey Photography)

Direction, acting and technical design emphasize the emotional and cultural weight of the story

BY TIMA SAASAA, STAFF WRITER

Under the direction of guest artist and Anti-Racist Theatre founder Nicole Brewer, George Mason School of Theater’s “Pipeline” captured the emotional intensity of Dominique Morisseau’s work through powerful performances and deliberate technical design. 

The production marked the first play by a Black female playwright at Mason since Suzan-Lori Parks’ “Venus” in the 2003-04 season, adding an important layer of representation to the staging of Morisseau’s story. 

“Pipeline” follows Nya, a dedicated public high school teacher, as she navigates the demands of her classroom and the strain in her relationship with her son, Omari, who faces the pressures of an unforgiving educational system. 

The play explored discipline, identity and systemic inequality, highlighting the emotional toll these forces took on students and parents. With a predominantly Black cast, the production reinforced representation on stage and brought authenticity to the characters’ experiences. 

At the center of the production, junior Jalen Whitmore brought Nya to life with a commanding physical presence that established her authority from the start. However, her authority was continuously affected by emotional vulnerability that surfaced in quieter moments. Her monologues felt unguarded and personal, revealing the weight of responsibility she carried as both a teacher and a mother. 

Whitmore’s performance was strengthened through her dynamic with junior Isaiah Clayton, who played Omari. In moments of conflict, their arguments were heightened by the production’s lighting choices, as warmer tones gave way to the spotlights which isolated the two characters and emphasized the emotional distance between them. 

Jasmine, played by junior Jordyn Packer, added depth to the production through moments that extended past dialogue. Her vocalizations during set changes paired with background instrumentals created a sense of continuity that carried emotion between scenes. These choices made the transitions feel intentional rather than only functional.

The friendship between Nya and Laurie, played by junior Rachael McNutt, showcased moments of natural humor. Laurie’s comedic presence came through in her delivery and timing, allowing lines to land naturally. Her interactions with the security guard, Dun, played by junior Myles Earley, balanced humor with sincerity, with his dialogue standing out as grounded and emotional.

Technical elements such as lighting, designed by Assistant Professor Minjoo Kim, and sound, designed by junior Lorelei Stuart, worked together to dramatize the scenes. This is especially true when Nya collapsed in front of her class, where flashes of light and heartbeat audio intensified the moment. In contrast, quieter scenes where characters left voicemails used isolated spotlights to create a sense of distance and rapport. 

By the final moments, the return to warmer overhead lighting signaled a shift toward reconciliation, mirroring the emotional progression of the characters. Through its performances and technical design, the production highlighted a mother’s effort to support her son’s future without distancing him from the community that shaped him.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Myles Earley’s name was accidentally misspelled. (Wednesday, April 15, 6:45 p.m.)