Playwright's Bio

Azya Lyons is a Mississippi-based creative writer. She enjoys writing fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry and plans to make writing her vocation. Azya is the recipient of 2 Silver Keys in Scholastics, has been published in 2 literary journals, and has won a national poetry contest.

Synopsis

Imani, Aiyanna, Chayenne, and Aaliyah have just graduated high school and are celebrating at a party in their honor, until an evening of entertainment takes a tragic turn.

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Get to Know Azya

When did you start writing? What/who are some of the major influences on your writing?
 

I started writing in middle school for language arts. I would say that my biggest influences would be Audre Lorde, Marge Piercy, and Erykah Badu. 

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How did you come to write your #ENOUGH play? Given that there are many dimensions to the issue of gun violence, what aspect did you focus on and why?

My play was honestly kind of hard to write, beings that it was so easy to personalize it and I couldn't if I wanted to improve upon it. I decided to focus on gun violence within the black community because that's what I grew up around and I know that there's a lot of potential in those types of stories. 

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What other issues or subjects do you care deeply about that you wish you saw on stage more? Why is this issue important for you?

Homophobia, transphobia, the rejection of mental health in minority communities. There are a multitude of issues I'd love to see onstage. They're important to me because these are real issues that deserve real solutions. 

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If you could write a play or story that represented the future you want to be a part of, what would it look like?

It would be very diverse. There'd be an eclectic cast from all different backgrounds that are talking about things personal to them and dealing with them in healthy ways. 

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What are some of your favorite plays?

My favorite plays are Tape by Stephen Belber, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.

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What will your next play be about? 

My next play is going to be about mental illness in minority communities. 

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