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An older African American woman speaks into a microphone in front of a drum set.

Deborah Performs Her Life Story on Stage

Growing up poor overlooking the steel mills of Pennsylvania, Deborah rarely felt like she belonged. She had no family support beyond her great-grandmother, who raised her, and often experienced racism and prejudice in her everyday life.

In the face of hardship, Deborah found solace in creative expression. She loved opportunities in which she could perform. “All of my life I wanted to be noticed and wanted to be heard,” Deborah recalled.

When Deborah was 12, she was encouraged by the pastor of her church to explore her creative gifts. She began writing on her own, and a dream began to grow inside her.

When Deborah was 17, she experienced the loss of her great-grandmother. Although she was left to fend for herself, her great-grandmother’s wise counsel propelled her forward: “Never give up no matter how many times you fall; rise up and journey on with your dream.”

Deborah continued to pursue her passion for performing and adopted the stage name Cha-Lay at 18. In the years that followed, she worked alongside the esteemed playwright August Wilson, founder of the Kuntu Repertory Theatre Vernell Lillie, poet and professor Rob Penny, renowned jazz pianist Geri Allen, and others.

An older woman sits behind a music stand, speaking into a microphone.
A single male with face paint performs with emotion on stage.
An older woman with a microphone raises her hand during a stage performance.

She desired a career in live theater, but as the years passed, doors seemed to close. Deborah yearned for support from mentors in the industry and people with resources to help take her career to the next level, but she wasn’t receiving it.

“It’s a bad thing when you know you are good enough to perform but they forget about you,” Deborah shared. “You keep going and going, but one day you give up.”

Deborah’s career path shifted to hospitality and medical administration over the years. She finished college, got married, and devoted her time to volunteer work. Through various volunteer efforts, she began supporting others in the way she wished people would have supported for her. She especially loved helping older adults and listening to their stories.

“There are so many people out there who need help. I’m a people person. I’m concerned about people [and want to] spend my time trying to do something for others,” Deborah said.

Through it all, her passion for self-expression never waned, and her desire to perform grew even stronger.

“There’s something in all of us that needs to be shared, whether through art, poetry, song, or music,” Deborah explained.

Deborah knew she had a powerful tale to tell—if only she could find the opportunity to share it.

When Wish of a Lifetime heard Deborah’s story, we were inspired by her resilience and passion for self-expression.  We seized the opportunity to help Deborah fulfill her dream of performing on stage and, this time, to be able to share her own story with the world.

Deborah had poured her heart and soul into writing, “The Lost Legend,” a play based on her life story. With the help of the The Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh, we arranged Deborah’s long-awaited moment in the spotlight.

A male photographer sets up a camera and tripod in the back of a theater.
Three male dancers raise their fists while performing on stage.

When the day of her big performance arrived, Deborah was full of anticipation and excitement.

“When I got to the dressing room and saw my flowers—that was the ultimate!” Deborah remembered.

The rows of the theater filled with more than 300 friends, fellow artists, and community members who had all gathered for her show. Deborah performed spoken-word monologues before an audience, and in between acts, folks from her church interpreted her words into song and dance on stage.

The woman who longed for family support her whole life was floored to finally receive it through a new sort of extended “family.” And when it came time for the curtain call, she was met with cheers and a standing ovation.

 “To be heard, finally, the excitement caused me tears of joy and I felt like God was right on stage with me,” Deborah said. “I felt like something heavy within me had been lifted.”

Four women stand close together in a theater.
A woman holding flowers on stage bows in front of an audience.

Deborah believes that her dream wouldn’t have materialized without the help of Wish of a Lifetime.

 “Wish of a Lifetime gave me the opportunity to be heard and listened to. It was a spiritual feeling.”

She hopes her story inspires people from all walks of life to pursue their passions despite the challenges life can bring.

“Never give up on your dreams,” Deborah advised.

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An older woman with a microphone reads from a script on stage.

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