 "Photo: Ricardo Sanchez / The Advocate")
Starring as the Cowardly Lion in the drama department’s adaptation of “The Wiz,” Dawaun King embodies the very courage that his character seeks during the trip to Oz.
Whether the 27-year-old is at school, church, working with disabled students or spending time with family, King’s niche of selfless dedication to making others happy brings light to even the darkest of days.
He will showcase the product of his recent undertaking, stage performing, as the King of the Jungle in “The Wiz” today through Sunday in the Knox Center at 8 p.m.
“My general outlook on life is love, confidence and hope,” King said. “I try to give what I have to the world, to people I know and the people I meet.”
Fittingly, King is currently in the process of finishing the prerequisites needed for Contra Costa College’s nursing program. His motivation for this career was born in 2008, after King nursed his father back to health from cancer.
Almost simultaneously, his wife was diagnosed with mild gestational diabetes while pregnant with their daughter, Dorinda Karen King.
Charmaine Calhoun-King said that in the face of those challenging moments, her husband displayed bravery and good faith in the way that he remained calm and continued being the encouraging person that everyone adores.
The Richmond resident is employed full-time by the West Contra Costa Unified School District as a behavioral specialist and instructional aide at De Anza High School. He primarily cares for a student who has muscle dystrophy, helping him navigate and write assignments.
Using comedy as his form of connecting with others, King keeps a lighthearted attitude, always joking around and making people laugh.
His funny personality will serve him well in this week’s drama production, Calhoun-King said.
Despite not having performed on stage since playing Audrey II in “The Little Shop of Horrors” at Richmond High School in 2000, King is very enthusiastic about his role.
“When I decided to audition, I didn’t expect such a big role,” he said. “It’s an awesome experience. It is coming along very nicely.”
Along with acting and dancing, King will be performing songs for the crowd, including an individual number titled “Mean Ol’ Lion.”
“He really was meant to play the role,” drama department Chairman and Director Clay David said. “It’s really nice to see a man not afraid to show an emotional side, having the courage to face life.”
David said that King’s supportive inclinations, such as traveling as far as Antioch to give fellow cast members rides to and from rehearsal, is special to the production.
It is a blessing for a teacher to see a group of such talent getting along and become a tight-knit family, he said.
Tiffany Gaines, who is playing the good witch Glinda, said that of the short amount of time that she has known King, she can see that he is a very generous and kind person.
“He always has a smile on his face, and I’ve never heard him say a negative thing, always positive,” Gaines said. “I can see that he’s a spiritual person.”
Growing up with his two sisters in their mother’s single-parent home, King said that when life was tough, faith and God kept his family together.
Currently, King serves as president and only man in his church’s Praise and Worship Team, Calhoun-King said, which aims to get the congregation excited during service.
Children of all ages are naturally attracted to King. Whether they know him through church or family and friends, King easily builds strong relationships with them and treats them as if they were his own kids, Calhoun-King said.
“He’s a happy-go-lucky person and always on the go. I’m the worrywart, but he has enough faith for the both of us,” she said. “There’s nothing that he can’t do. I don’t think he ever gets tired.”
Contact Holly Pablo at hpablo.advocate@gmail.com
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