The amazing story of Toni Stone at Aurora Fox

The trailblazing baseball player is celebrated in an excellent production featuring Kenya Mahogany Fashaw

Toni Stone is my hero! Why? Because she had a passion for something and never denied it or dismissed it. She had a goal and never wavered. She lived a life of integrity, and her energy was boundless.  And now you can learn all about her life at the Aurora Fox.

Written by Lydia R. Diamond, Toni Stone is a powerful play about the life of a little-known Black, female baseball player who fought vigorously to play the game she loved. As depicted in the play, Toni eventually broke all barriers and played for the Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the Negro Leagues. Not only was she the first woman to play professional ball with the men, but she was the first Black woman to do so.

I am not a huge baseball fan, though I do understand the scoring (unlike football, which eludes me). But you don’t have to be a baseball fan to appreciate and enjoy this production at Aurora Fox. In some respects, baseball could be a metaphor for just about anything. It certainly got me thinking about my childhood dreams and where they are today.

Much of the story is told directly by the character Toni Stone, played magnificently by Kenya Mahogany Fashaw.  We follow her from childhood through the achievement of her goal, to play baseball with the men in the Negro Leagues. Along the way, we are privy to the ups and downs that confront her as an athlete, a Black woman, and a human being.

Fashaw delivers nothing short of a tour de force performance as Toni. She is engaging and energized. For two hours she commands the stage at Aurora Fox and never loosens her grip. She is as comfortable with sharing the human side of Toni as well as that of an athlete in pursuit of her dreams. A remarkable performance.

Along with Fashaw, there is a highly accomplished ensemble of men who take on a variety of roles throughout the play. Standouts include eden (Millie) and Dawayne Carrington (Alberga).  As Millie, eden is Stone’s confidant and sounding board. Played with restraint, eden is able to capture the essence of the character without being a caricature. Alberga is the owner of a bar that Stone frequents and assists Stone in the pursuit of her baseball dreams. Carrington brings a sense of reason to the action, offsetting Stone’s sometimes misaligned pursuit of her goals. The rest of the ensemble includes Josiah Peters, Don Randle, Mykail Cooley, Chaz Grundy, Rashad Holland, and Stevie Wise. Every one of them contributes 100 percent with fully fleshed-out characters as members of the Negro Leagues.

As directed by Kenny Moten, Toni Stone moves at a brisk pace, never losing focus or intent. Moten has accentuated the positive notes that the play exudes. He uses the character of Toni Stone to demonstrate a positive experience as she pursues her goals. Yes, it is not all peaches and cream, but Moten does not focus on the negativity, rather adding shine to the powerful, positive message found within the play as Stone pursues her dream of playing baseball. Moten is an accomplished director and this production is another feather in his cap.

The scenic design by Brandon Philip Case and the costume design by Holly K. Hurd are both spot on. The stage is primarily seen as a baseball field with authentic fencing and lighting. The cast is dressed in traditional baseball attire for the period.

You don’t have to be a diehard baseball fan to find meaning in Toni Stone. It’s right there in front of you: Pursue your dreams and don’t succumb to the negativity that may spring up along the way. Toni Stone, both the play and the woman, are winners and must be seen.