Lines in the Dust

Denitra wants what is best for her child. A well-rounded education at a school that can challenge her daughter to achieve her best possible future isn't a ridiculous demand, but because of the state of things in Newark, New Jersey, it feels like an impossible dream. So Denitra does a little boot-strapping and falsifies paperwork to gain admittance to a better school in an affluent neighborhood. It's technically illegal — but only a problem if Denitra is found out. Unfortunately, a former police officer is on staff to sniff out district jumpers, and he's very persistent. Nikkole Salter's drama Lines in the Dust is about how 60 years after Brown vs. Board of Education, America still hasn't figured out how to give everyone — poor people and minorities included — the same basic education. The Black Rep continues its season with Lines in the Dust. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday (January 13 to 29) at Washington University's Edison Theatre (6445 Forsyth Boulevard; www.theblackrep.org). Tickets are $15 to $40.