Play Based On Memoir On Stage At Beverly Arts Center

Denise Jones, author of the book, “Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done” and the stage play, “Beyond the Door,” in the community working with young girls. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VANESSA ABRON.
Denise Jones, author of the book, “Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done” and the stage play, “Beyond the Door,” in the community working with young girls. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VANESSA ABRON.

Play Based On Memoir On Stage At Beverly Arts Center

By Tia Carol Jones

Denise Jones’ life is the inspiration for a play that is based on her memoir “Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done.” In the memoir, Jones’ life of drug addiction and crime on the city’s West side is detailed, along with her journey to becoming a community leader. “Beyond the Door” will run Friday through Sunday, Sept. 13th through 15th, at the Beverly Arts Center, located at 2407 W. 111th St.

Jones worked at the Goodman Theatre 30 years ago and saw Tony-nominated actress Felicia P. Fields in “The Amen Corner.” It was then that Jones felt Fields could play her grandmother in a play about her life. Jones then began working on her memoir, “Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done.” Jones and Fields became friends and 25 years later it became the play, “Beyond the Door.”

Jones knew her book could inspire people and wanted to share her message of hope to more than just the people who would read the book. She decided to turn it into a play. Jones sent Fields the book and wanted to make sure that Fields was still onboard to play the grandmother role.

The title of the play refers to Jones seeing something beyond a door one day as a child that changes her life. Jones went into a life of crime and drug addiction. Jones’ mother was inspired by a minister to change her life and eventually Jones also turns her life around, with the hope of changing her life, too. Fields describes Jones’ story as one of redemption.

“We are taking a journey from the darkest place in a person’s life to a place of enlightenment,” Fields said.

The whole purpose of the play, Fields said, is for people to commiserate around things that occur in life, without having any shame. She said it can give people some consolation that they aren’t the only ones to experience some of the things they’ve gone through.

For Jones, writing the memoir was a part of her healing journey. As she was healing, she found out other people had experiences that changed their lives, but they were hesitant to share those experiences with other people.

“One, by me being a substance abuse counselor and I’m hearing all these different situations in all these individual’s lives and I wanted people to be able to have a voice and talk about the things that happened to them where they didn’t have to feel shame anymore and take back their power,” Jones said.

Jones’ hope is that with people hearing and seeing her story, they will be empowered to use their voice and can be productive in society again, if that’s something they’ve lost as a result of their experiences.

Jones said the other prevailing themes in the play are forgiveness and reunification of the family. She said she hopes people who see the play will know there is light at the end of the storm.

“My hope is that those who are sitting in the seats who are fighting with unforgiveness, those who are still encountering the things I have done, that they know they don’t have to remain that way. Here is a person who went through this and she’s bringing her life to you, so you can make a change, or you can bring a change back to your community,” Jones said.

Jones said that she sees similarities in what she went through and what other people are going through now. She knows there is someone who wants out of that life and she wants the play to shine a light and encourage those people to get out of that life.

For more information about Beyond the Door, visit https://www.beyondthedoorplay.com.

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