Callas
Callas is a moving exploration of loss, identity, and rebirth. In 1970 Brooklyn, three sisters come together under the shadow of their mother’s passing. As they organize the funeral, each sister must confront her own inner turmoil and the harsh realities of their world—a world where being Black and female carries unique burdens. The play delves into multiple layers of death: not just the literal loss of a parent, but the quiet, often painful death of one’s former self, and the fading of old dreams in the face of unyielding change.
Interwoven with themes of war and romance, Callas portrays a period of deep personal and societal transformation. The sisters’ journey is one of reckoning and renewal, a testament to the power of love, community, and the courage to heal even when surrounded by grief.
Details
Author Bio
Niveah Glover is a writer, poet, and playwright whose work explores identity, Black womanhood, and Southern culture. A student at Howard University pursuing a B.A. in English, she is the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, the 2024 National Poetry Out Loud Champion, and a two-time Florida State Poetry Out Loud Champion. Her play Callas recently concluded at Jacksonville Arts and Music School, where it received rave reviews.
Niveah has developed original work as a festival playwright with the New South Young Playwrights Festival at Horizon Theatre and has performed nationally and internationally, including headlining the Poetry by Heart Festival in London. She has also contributed to the African American Writing Institute, the Jacksonville Mayor’s Office Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee, and Yellow House Gallery. Through writing, performance, and community engagement, Niveah continues to use her craft to inspire and connect audiences.
Duration
120 minutes (2 hours)
Genre/Subgenre
A Period Drama
Time Period/Setting
Brooklyn, New York, Summer of 1970 — inside a family brownstone, against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and Black community life.