For Bo: A Play Inspired by the Murder of Botham Jean by Officer Amber Guyger

Written by Ayvaunn Penn (Columbia University Dean's Fellow, Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference 2020 Finalist, HEED Award), this fictional narrative is inspired by the real-life murder of Botham Jean by now ex-police officer Amber Guyger. For Bo unpacks the unfortunate tragedy that befalls the Jones family when brother and son Bo Jones is murdered in his own home by police officer Amy Guy. Through contemporary free verse poetry, rhythm, and percussion this play explores the issues leading to Bo Jones’ death and how society, particularly the black community, grapples with the resulting trauma through social media. Most of all For Bo reminds us of the monumental, life-changing weight of our decisions – that each thought and subsequent action has the power to change tomorrow for worse or for better.

This April 2021 virtual production and community discussion presented by Theatre TCU, The #ForBoInitiative, and The Botham Jean Foundation is created in collaboration with the community to honor the life and memory of Botham Jean and facilitate community healing from racial bias and police brutality. The show is co-directed by Theatre TCU student Ashley Parks and uniquely comprised of illustrations created by student and professional volunteer artists ranging from middle school to professional from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and beyond. Bringing these illustrations to life are the designs and vocals of Texas Christian University theatre students.

Note: This is a companion piece to the documentary Let the People Come Inside.

Show Graphic by Brian Dickson, TCU Student

  • Ayvaunn Penn
    Screenwriter, Lyricist, Composer
  • Ayvaunn Penn
    Faculty Co-Director
  • Ashley Parks
    Student Co-Director
  • The #ForBoInitiative
    Producer
  • The Botham Jean Foundation
    Producer
  • Texas Christian University Theatre Department
    Producer
  • Alanna Stern
    Key Cast
    "Narrator, Chorus"
  • Nijel Smith
    Key Cast
    "Bo Jones"
  • Gabriel Woodard
    Key Cast
    "B Jones, Chorus"
  • Jaden Lewis
    Key Cast
    "Mama Jones, Chorus"
  • Marielle Wyatt
    Key Cast
    "Amy Guy, News Commentator"
  • Arielle Roberts
    Key Cast
    "Judge Fannie Temp, Chorus"
  • Tychelle Bearden
    Key Cast
    "Officer Tasha Boyd, Chorus"
  • Aaron Johnson
    Key Cast
    "JB, Chorus"
  • Mario Terrell
    Key Cast
    "Host John Zimmen, Chorus"
  • Larissa Marks
    Key Cast
    "The Violator, Reporter Marissa Larks, Bubbles, Chorus Leader"
  • Murell Horton
    Art Direction
  • Charity Robinson
    Video Editor & Sound Design
  • D'Mariel Jones
    Hair & Costume Design
  • Zoe Goldstein
    Assistant Costume Desginer
  • Miranda Anthony-Miller
    Scenic Designer
  • Schuyler Seitz
    Stage Manager
  • Johanna Quigley
    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Erica Harkins
    Scenic Paint Crew
  • Audrey McMullen
    Scenic Paint Crew
  • Anna Murphy
    Scenic Paint Crew
  • Elissa Oeschler
    Scenic Paint Crew
  • Rebecca Thompson
    Scenic Paint Crew
  • Brian Dickson
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Lauren Davis
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Tychelle Bearden
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Ashley Cranefield
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Alex Colig
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Maggie Ewing
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Ryenne Bishop
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Abby Hoffacker
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Sarah Tonemah
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Michele Alford
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Murell Horton
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Ian Loveall
    Visual Art Crew - Texas Christian University
  • Amber Bailey
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Kay Ford
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Chayla Cervantes
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Chloe Garcia
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Jasmarie Rosales
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Isabel Payan
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Magdalena Castilleja
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Elizabeth Alaniz
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Melissa Archan Avelar
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Celestina Valles
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Harper Roche
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Penelope Diamantopoulos
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Juana Gonzalez Melendez
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Jasmine Gonzales
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Alexandra Ontiveros
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Lucy Bravo
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Teryn Utz
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Nina Miller Pitt
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Sara Puente Osorio
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Ila Avila
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Chloe Schulenburg
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Nora Kerstetter
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Adrianna Villarreal
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Hayley Hamilton
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Sui Mawi
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Vera Paz
    Visual Art Crew - Young Women's Leadership Academy
  • Nathan Mayes
    Visual Art Crew - Harding University
  • Monterey Carroll
    Visual Art Crew - Harding University
  • Amelia Kretzer
    Visual Art Crew - Harding University
  • Nadia Hannon
    Visual Art Crew - Austin College
  • Sonia Charales
    Visual Art Crew - Austin College
  • Chloe Bachofen
    Visual Art Crew - Austin College
  • Albert Fields
    Visual Art Crew - Community & Online Artists
  • Josh Alford, Pratt Institute
    Visual Art Crew - Community & Online Artists
  • Brittany Steele
    Visual Art Crew - Community & Online Artists
  • Michele Alford
    Costume Studio Supervisor
  • Tristan Decker
    Lighting & Projection Design
  • Chris Willmer
    Production Technician
  • Philip Zielke
    Scenic Studio Supervisor
  • Sarah Tonemah
    Costume Technician
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Feature, Student
  • Genres:
    Narrative, Drama, Activism, Social Change, Black Stories
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 16, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Texas Christian University
  • Silicon Valley African Film Festival
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    October 9, 2021
    local
    TBA
  • Gary International Black Film Festival
    Gary, IN
    United States
    October 8, 2021
    Indiana Premiere
    TBA
Director Biography

AYVAUNN PENN (PLAYWRIGHT/LYRICIST/COMPOSER/FACULTY CO-DIRECTOR) is the founder of the #ForBoInitiative and an instructor within the Texas Christian University Theatre Department. This is her first time directing a Theatre TCU mainstage production after directing two department staged readings: Marcus or The Secret of Sweet and the premier staged reading of For Bo. As a playwright, she is a former Columbia University Dean’s Fellow as well as a 2020 finalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Other professional credits include: being playwright, director, and composer for The Feather Doesn’t Fall Far from the Wing featured at Signature Theatre in conjunction with Columbia University; directing “March by June” in the Reset Theatre Coalition play festival presented by Conch Shell Productions, Braata Productions, and Kumu Kahua Theatre; and serving as assistant director to both Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson at The Billie Holiday Theatre and Golden Globe-winner Regina Taylor at the Goodman Theatre.
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ASHLEY PARKS (STUDENT CO-DIRECTOR) is a fourth-year student from Woodbridge, Virgina, who is pursuing her B.A. in both Theatre and Writing. Previously, Ashley served as the Assistant Director for the staged reading of For Bo in February 2020. Ashley has also served as Assistant to the Director in A Streetcar Named Desire where she also performed as Woman #1, who she lovingly renamed Regina Wheatly. After graduation, Ashley plans to pursue a full-time career in editing while maintaining her artistic hobbies of acting, directing, and playwriting.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"As I watched the Amber Guyger trial play out on national television along with the rest of America, this play was quickened in my spirit. The exact moment was when I heard Judge Tammy Kemp say, ‘Why are the people locked out? This is the people’s court. Let the people come inside.’ Indeed. Let the people witness. Let the people hear. Let us, as a community, come together in this room – the courtroom – and deal with the tragedy of Botham Jean’s death. It was in that moment, that the seeds for For Bo and The #ForBoInitiative took root in my heart. Through For Bo, may the memory of Botham Jean remain alive. May the doors of this monumental piece of American history never close. May the courtroom remain open. May society gather together in theaters – physical and virtual – not just to deal with the tragedy of Botham Jean but learn from his death. May Botham’s life be honored. May we never forget." ~ Ayvaunn Penn, Playwright-Lyricist-Composer, Faculty Co-Director
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"It’s a unique and invigorating experience to be attached to one show for so long. It’s been one of the many joys of my college career to watch this show grow in the many ways that it has over the past year. When approaching this piece for TCU’s mainstage production, one of the most prominent things that stuck with me was the proximity of it all. Amber Guyger was fired from the Dallas Police Department on my 20th birthday. I was on TCU’s campus when the tragic event that inspired this work of art occurred a mere 30-45 minutes away. As you embark on the journey through this show, I hope you feel its impact. I hope you feel the resonance of this story. I hope you understand that things didn’t have to end the way they did on September 6th, 2018 and that it’s our duty as ethical leaders and responsible citizens on this campus and beyond to continue to do the work and be the change we want to see in the world. Botham Jean’s legacy of joy and life and vibrancy continues with us. We must always uplift these stories. We must continue to do the work. For Bo, and for every Black life lost. They live on forever through us." ~ Ashley Parks, Student Co-Director