Local actress to portray Coretta Scott King

Portraying a cultural icon is never an easy assignment. For actress Demetria McKinney, it’s particularly challenging.

“I’m a goofball, so I have to dig to find what part of me is remotely connected to Coretta,” the Johns Creek resident said.

As Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., McKinney will be one of the stars of “I Dream,” the first major stage production in America about the life of the revered civil rights leader. The role of Dr. King is being played by Tony Award nominee Quentin Earl Darrington.

“I Dream,” a musical drama, will have its world premiere July 9 on the Alliance Stage at the Woodruff Arts Center.

An accomplished stage and screen actress, McKinney is perhaps best-known as Janine in Tyler Perry’s hit television sitcom, “House of Payne.” This role, however, lets her really stretch, as she gets to play Coretta King at several stages of King’s life.

“It starts when they met in college when she was roughly 18, and it ends with the assassination,” McKinney said. Although his wife wasn’t there when Dr. King died, it is clear she knew what could happen and that she would carry on her husband’s mission.

“She says if this happens, one day I will complete the journey. She’s a lot of the reason we have the legacy of him that we have today. She was truly his partner, another aspect I love about her,” McKinney said.

As a singer, the score is exciting because it’s a blend of musical genres, she said, including rhythm and blues, hip hop and classical.

“It’s very operatic. It combines a lot of different flavors and I think it will be a nice surprise for people.”

Directed by Jasmine Guy and written by Douglas Tappin, “I Dream” will run through July 31.