Collection: "Stuff Inside My Head" - Staged Reading @Southeast Regional Library, June 28, 2025

As part of the June 2025 “Unspoken” art exhibition, Drinking Gourd Gallery, Southeast Regional Library and the Wake County Public Libraries invite you to join us for a community-centered experience that shines a light on men’s mental health through the lens of art and live performance. Written by poet, author, and playwright Michael Garcia, “Stuff Inside My Head” is a groundbreaking play that combines poetry and social commentary to address and confront the stigmas that continue to plague men of color and their mental health.  "Stuff Inside My Head" was a participating play at the 2022 National Black Theatre Festival.  ‘The Epilogue’ – the fourth act, and final act, from this culturally significant play, will also be on stage as a one-act performance at the 2nd annual Black Men’s Play Festival this July in Chicago.

The play revolves around Anthony Reynolds, an emotionally fragile poet, who contends with depression, feelings of failure and family tragedy. In this excerpt reading of ACT I from the play, Anthony invites two of his childhood friends to his Harlem apartment to help him prepare for an open mic event, but things take a wrong turn when a letter bearing bad news opens old wounds. The accusations and revelations that follow stoke resentment and anger amongst the friends and reveal long-kept secrets that threaten to destroy lives. Cast: Kevin "Kaze" Thomas as Anthony Reynolds, Khalid Greenaway as Caesar Rodriguez, and Ajani Kambón as DeAndre Johnson. 

Performance will include a post-show Q&A (question and answer) session with the playwright, cast members, and a mental health professional.

We would like to extend special thanks and gratitude to: Playwright Michael Garcia, Cast Members Kevin "Kaze" Thomas, Khalid Greenaway, and Ajani Kambón, Wake County Public Libraries, Southeast Regional Library and Yvette Holder of Sips & Scripts for helping to make this staged reading production possible.