‘Fallawayinto: Corridors of Rememory’ celebrates Black trans survival

The history of theater is replete with playwrights who have taken inspiration from compelling family histories or the remarkable stories of exceptional family members. Playwright Arielle Julia Brown joins that company Jan. 22-Feb. 1 with the Philadelphia premiere of “Fallawayinto: Corridors of Rememory,” which tells the story of her aunt, Donna Nicole Booker, a Black trans woman who left an indelible mark on her family and community.

Booker was an artist, activist, sex worker, mother and theologian. She was also a member of the Transcendence Gospel Choir, the world’s first all-trans gospel choir, based in Oakland, California. She died of colon cancer in 2006.

“In a time when the lives of Black trans people are being contested and erased, this play is an act of reclaiming and remembering,” Brown said of her inspiration behind writing about her aunt. “Donna’s voice — her life — deserves to be remembered, not only in the context of her struggles but also her triumphs, her joy, and the love she shared with her community.”

The play has undergone an extensive evolution on the road to its Philadelphia premiere, including workshops and rewrites. The script began as a traditionally structured narrative. However, in 2022, Brown partnered with director Nia Benjamin and her company Ninth Planet. Their close collaboration transformed the project, evolving it into something far more experimental and adventurous. Now, the play is set within a multimedia framework that invites audiences — through fragmented memories, poetic dialogue and powerful songs — into Booker’s immersive world of art, sex work, motherhood and advocacy.

“Arielle has been tremendously generous in letting me and the company help shape the story,” Benjamin said. “Getting to work with the playwright is such a blessing.”

In a statement, Benjamin spoke about the themes of the play, as she sees them.

“In this play, we are not just telling the story of a single individual; we are also reflecting the broader narrative of Black trans survival,” Benjamin said. “The role of community is central to this play — through memory, mourning and healing, we find the strength to rebuild, to reclaim and to grow.”

Additionally, the play serves as a springboard for involvement by and for the trans community. Ninth Planet, where Benjamin serves as co-artistic director, is offering a series of free community programs curated by and for Black trans women at FringeArts and Icebox Project Space, in addition to producing a film series documenting the lives of six Black trans women living in Philadelphia through interviews and visual art.

In a final analysis, Brown hopes that audiences will come away remembering Donna as “person who lived a life of faith.” 

“She spent her life building and serving her community,” Brown said. “In the end, that community was with her, surrounded her [during] her passing — and they will always remember what she brought to the community.”

“Fallawayinto: Corridors of Rememory” runs Jan. 22-Feb. 1 at FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Blvd. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit fringearts.com.