Nina and Troyboy
Written and Directed by Maisha Azadi
Brooklyn, New York. 2015. Set amidst the emergence of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Nina and Troyboy is the story of the complex dynamic between a mother of a Black son and the society she must teach him to navigate for his own survival.
Nina’s son Troy has gone missing after an argument the night prior. His absence at his weekly meeting with his social worker puts him in direct violation of his parole agreement and further risks his freedom. With news of yet another unarmed Black man being shot by police, Nina is tempted to fear the worst, and must rely on her faith for the preservation and salvation of her only child she struggled to raise in a “postracial” America.
The play journeys over the 24 hours following Troy’s disappearance and Nina anticipating his homecoming.
This fictional drama based on true events peels back the layer on Black humanity depicting an intimate view of a mother’s tireless efforts to raise and protect her son in a world where he is often categorized and feared. Nina and Troyboy explores how mental health, racism and religion collide to color the stark reality facing many young men and their families across the United States.
Production Team
