Dreaming Emmett

Dreaming Emmett is Toni Morrison's first play, commissioned by the New York State Writers Institute and premiered in 1986 at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, New York.

Structured as a dream within a dream, it follows the spirit of 14-year-old Emmett Till as he reminisces about his summer vacation and interacts with friends, his mother, the woman he accosted, and his white killers, exploring themes of white supremacy, grief, loss, and feminism through masked characters and surreal scenes.

The play was performed for only four weeks and has not been produced since, though it showcases Morrison's innovative use of dreams to bring Till's story to life cathartically.