Daniel Koa Beaty recently performed his one-man, autobiographical play, “Love Warrior” at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn as part of the theater’s “The Black Narrative” theater series. Beaty had the house riveted as he performed this deep, revealing work which talked about the struggles he has faced in his life and how he was able to overcome them to be a Love Warrior.
Sitting in the audience felt like a revealing, healing journey with Beaty. He shared his successes in life, and also shared the tragic past of his father and brother: His father was a repeatedly incarcerated heroin addict, and his brother became a crack addict after returning home from the military. Beaty shared how difficult it was growing up with so much upheaval around him and how his mother was there to take care of her five children in Dayton, Ohio.
Giving the audience bits of his brilliance, he performed excerpts from a few of his dynamic one-man shows including “Emergency” and “The Tallest Tree In The Forest.” Beaty stood on stage completely vulnerable as he told the stories that are in his past. He also talked of his spiritual journey to finding his worth. He talked of the voice in him that at one point told him to end his life. But, then there were other voices, his deceased father and brother, who told him to keep going. He was able to find a connection to his great grandmother and journeyed to Africa to connect with her people. She was royalty and was stolen and placed into slavery. When he got to her people, he found out that he is royalty, and a ceremony was held in his honor.
Beaty truly believes that theater can heal as we look at the world in real time and go on a journey to discover our purpose and fulfill it. His show definitely connected with people in the audience. As he spoke of the pain and tragedies he had experienced, you could hear people crying softly in the audience. This play is something anyone can identify with. We have all had tragedies in our lives and what this play emphasizes is that we are all divine, we all have an inner strength that will pull us past any obstacles, and we can all heal if we give ourselves the chance. Also know that your ancestors are with you at all times and are there to help strengthen you for your journey in life. Beaty believes that theater is healing, and I can tell you, on a personal level, that definitely rang true for me. If you get any opportunity to see “Love Warrior,” rush to the theater. A healing is awaiting you as well.
In addition to “Love Warrior” the other two productions presented over that weekend were “Dutchman” by the late Amiri Baraka and “The Lady and The Tramp” by the late Aishah Rahman. To learn more about shows at the Billie Holiday Theater on Fulton Street in Brooklyn visit thebillieholiday.org.