At the heart of every city is its people, and Memphis is no exception. Our neighborhoods, each with its own unique story, are the pulse of this city—stories of resilience, pride, and strength that often go untold. “We All We Got,” a powerful new play by Ann Perry Wallace, is one of those stories, shining a light on Binghampton, a neighborhood often misunderstood and misrepresented. This play, born from the voices of the community and performed as part of the Orpheum Theatre’s Neighborhood Play Program, does more than entertain—it challenges us to rethink what we know about our city and its people.
We sat down with Ann to talk about what inspired this project, why it matters for Memphis, and how it reflects the true spirit of Binghampton.
Community Inspiration: A Play by and for the People
“We All We Got” wasn’t created in a writer’s room. It was born in the streets, stores, and homes of Binghampton, with stories gathered from the people who live there. Ann’s inspiration for the play came directly from an 18-month process of research, interviews, and community engagement led by the Orpheum Theatre’s Education Department.
“I was inspired to write ‘We All We Got’ based on 18 months of research, data collection, and interviews the Orpheum Theatre Group did in Binghampton,” Ann explains. “The Education Department had been delivering educational programming in Binghampton for a while. Their work was so transformative that the Orpheum decided to expand the Neighborhood Play Program and invite the larger community to participate.”
In a city where neighborhoods can sometimes be defined by negative headlines, this play flips the narrative, honoring the people and their stories that are often overlooked.
Cultural Significance: Reflecting Memphis’ Diversity and Resilience
Binghampton, like so many Memphis neighborhoods, has a rich history full of diversity, resilience, and community spirit. “We All We Got” captures the essence of this neighborhood, using its stories to paint a vivid picture of life in one of Memphis’ most dynamic—and rapidly changing—areas.
“The play reflects the diverse experiences and resilience of the Binghampton neighborhood because it’s based on stories directly from the residents, store owners, and the Binghampton religious community,” Ann says. “The story circles included a microcosm of Binghampton residents, so the play is a snapshot of a variety of stories that reflect the real lives of those who live there.”
From the perspectives of Binghampton’s long-time residents to newer arrivals, the play offers a snapshot of what it’s like to live in a community facing complex challenges. It’s about more than just surviving—it’s about the strength, hope, and determination that define Binghampton’s people.
Personal Connection: A Memphian’s Perspective
As a Memphian, Ann’s personal connection to this project runs deep. She sees the issues explored in “We All We Got” reflected in her own experiences growing up in Memphis, and in the struggles faced by many of the city’s neighborhoods today.
“The issues that were shared with us in the story circles, like racism, gentrification, and violence, are symptoms that can be found in almost every Memphis neighborhood,” Ann explains. “I’ve personally seen my own neighborhood become less safe over the years. These are universal issues that many of our neighborhoods face, unfortunately.”
For Ann, the play is more than an artistic project—it’s a call to recognize the systemic challenges that affect so many Memphis communities. It’s a reminder that the struggles in Binghampton are shared by many of us, no matter where we live.
The Power of Theatre: Fostering Community Engagement and Dialogue
Theatre is a tool for transformation—an opportunity to engage, reflect, and connect. In a city like Memphis, where neighborhoods often face negative portrayals, theatre provides a platform for people to see one another as more than just statistics or headlines. It allows us to see the shared humanity that connects us all.
“Theatre can be used to humanize people, to help us see that we are more alike than different,” Ann says. “So often when we hear about Binghampton, it’s because something bad has happened. But theatre allows us to see the humanity in each other. We all want the same things: to make it home safe, to raise healthy children, and to have a good life. Art shows us a mirror.”
By bringing Binghampton’s stories to the stage, “We All We Got” provides a space for dialogue and understanding. It challenges us to rethink how we view our neighbors and invites us to stand in solidarity with them.
Character Development: Shavonne and Bakari—Two Lives, One Neighborhood
At the center of “We All We Got” are Shavonne and Bakari—two young girls living in Binghampton but experiencing the world in radically different ways. Shavonne is the “IT girl” from a family with deep roots in the community, while Bakari is a refugee with big dreams but facing greater obstacles.
“The two characters represent how people can have vastly different experiences in the same neighborhood,” Ann explains. “Although they’re both girls of color, one faces a much heavier burden of racism, both from classmates and the world, because she is misunderstood as a refugee.”
The line in the play where Shavonne says, “We are both living in the hood,” and Bakari responds, “No, we are both living in the hood having different experiences,” encapsulates the divide. Ann hopes to spark conversation about how systemic forces shape people’s lives in different ways, even when they live in the same place.
“What I hope to explore with these two characters is how their experiences are directly related to the opportunities and obstacles they face. Until there’s awareness of the power and brilliance at stake, the disparities may continue to go unnoticed,” Ann says.
Through these two characters, Ann explores the power of systemic forces—race, class, and immigration—that shape people’s opportunities and experiences, even in the same community. It’s a reminder that we must be aware of these forces in order to address the disparities that exist.
Why It Matters to Memphis: Shifting the Narrative
Memphis is a city full of contradictions. We are a city that struggles with deep-rooted issues of inequality, but we’re also a city that has always persevered and thrived because of our communities. “We All We Got” asks us to look at Binghampton—not as a neighborhood defined by decline—but as a community full of people with dreams, struggles, and the strength to keep going.
“My hope was always to shine a light on the people at the heart of this community,” Ann says. “Binghampton is more than the negative headlines. It’s a place of resilience, and the people there are part of the fabric of Memphis. We need to pay attention to the issues that affect our communities and work toward solutions.”
This play is a call to action for Memphians to reframe how we think about our neighborhoods. It’s not just about Binghampton; it’s about Memphis. By supporting this production, we show that we’re willing to listen, to learn, and to understand the challenges our neighbors face.
Engagement Opportunities: The Impact Beyond the Stage
The magic of theatre lies in its ability to create lasting connections. For Ann, “We All We Got” is not just a play—it’s a way to foster ongoing dialogue within the Binghampton community and beyond. The Orpheum’s Neighborhood Play Program isn’t a one-off event; it’s part of a broader effort to build relationships and create change.
“At the end of the last performance, new relationships were formed, and there was a new respect for the different facets of the neighborhood,” Ann shares. “I think we all underestimated the impact that theatre could have in bringing people together, but this is one of the transformative parts of live theater. What comes next is unknown, but there’s a core group of people who are now friends and resources for each other.”
The play has already created a ripple effect in the community, fostering deeper connections and inspiring new projects and collaborations. It’s proof that theatre has the power to transform not just individuals, but entire communities.
"We All We Got" Is Memphis
“We All We Got” matters to Memphis because it tells the story of who we are and who we can be. It challenges us to see each other as neighbors, to understand the struggles and dreams of our fellow Memphians, and to work together to create a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
In a city like Memphis, where our neighborhoods are so often divided, “We All We Got” reminds us that we are all connected. It’s a powerful, unflinching look at the heart of Binghampton—and, by extension, the heart of Memphis itself. It’s a reminder that in the end, we’re all in this together.
As Ann Perry Wallace puts it, “We all want the same things. We all just want to make it home safe. And in the end, we’re all in this together.”
