Raquel Brown Combines Theater and Public Health in New Musical
Raquel Brown wants audiences to leave the theater with more than a good story, using her new musical, The Dream She Built, to raise public health awareness. The one-night-only production comes from Literature In Motion, the nonprofit performing arts organization Brown founded.
From Clinical Education to the Stage
Brown brings a dual background to the project as a registered nurse, health-care educator, and entrepreneur who has been involved in the performing arts since she was 6 years old. Even while building a career in health care, theater remained a constant outlet for handling life's challenges. “I was a very shy young girl,” Brown said. “Theater really helped me evolve as an individual, both when I was young and throughout my adult life.”
That personal experience shaped her professional approach. In her health education work, Brown observed that students responded more readily to acting out scenarios and performing skits than to traditional clinical settings. She designed The Dream She Built to offer audiences a similar avenue for connecting with life-saving information.
Musical Blends Health Themes with Life Shifts
The musical examines dreams, relationships, family, faith, resilience, and unexpected life shifts, while weaving public health themes directly into the narrative. “I took all the things that I was really passionate about — the arts, which were a large part of my life, and health care — and worked them into the story behind The Dream She Built,” Brown said.
Saturday’s performance coincides with World Diabetes Day, linking the script’s health messages to a broader community wellness mission. As part of that mission, Literature In Motion will honor Dr. Anthony Atkins, a primary care physician at Health Partners of Western Ohio, as its Health-care Hero.
“This show is a phenomenal wellness-themed inspiration production,” said Pasha Carter, the show’s stage director. “Anybody there should be leaving feeling inspired, feeling ultimately lifted up towards health and the importance of self-care and mental health.”
Carter Directs Nationwide Cast for Production
Carter, a local case manager and care coordinator who met Brown in the health-care industry, has worked with Literature In Motion since its inception. After relocating to Toledo, Carter pursued a bachelor’s degree in visual and performing arts from the University of Toledo. As director, she utilizes her background in acting, stage crew, and costuming to translate the written text into a stage performance, focusing on character development and emotional communication.
The production features a nationwide cast including Danny Boy, Mikeal Dwayne Griggs, Sasha Clayborne, Dr. Deonte Moss, Summer Conley, and Lamar Casey. Brown views bringing the show to Toledo as a homecoming and a starting point for a wider touring initiative.
Ticket prices are set at $60.54 for general admission, $71.21 for preferred seating, and $81.88 for the VIP experience. The VIP tier includes Unspoken, an ebook based on the musical, a wellness-themed gift bag, and a meet-and-greet photo opportunity with selected cast members.