When American International College student Khamari Hamblin ’25 learned during his junior year that his Theater Arts major was being phased out, he was given a choice: switch to a new field of study or complete his degree as the last student to graduate from AIC from that program.
He didn’t hesitate.
“I loved the theater and would see it through,” he said.
In line with standard teach-out procedures for academic programs, Hamblin was offered the remaining courses he needed to graduate and still enjoy a meaningful academic experience. Instead of viewing the change as a setback, he embraced it—and created an opportunity to tell a story that was both deeply personal and broadly relatable.
Hamblin’s senior project, a one-man play titled The War in Mind, will debut at AIC’s Griswold Theatre on August 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Performed, written, and produced entirely by him, the play also marks the final performance by a student in the College’s Theater Arts program.
Although Hamblin remained enrolled in Theater Arts to complete his degree, he also took courses in the newly launched Arts and Entertainment Management program. Those classes enriched the development of his final production, exposing him to graphic design, marketing the arts, creative writing, and talent development—all of which proved valuable, even though, for this project, the only talent he would need was his own.
The inspiration for The War in Mind began to take shape following Hamblin’s performance in Topdog/Underdog during his junior year.
“After that experience, I noticed less noise in my head,” he said. “It showed me that immersing myself in a character helped me quiet some demons. That led to this idea of writing a role for myself—one that told my own story.”
His original narrative emerged through poetry and prose in creative writing courses and was later expanded through a podcast on self-development. He continued shaping the story in a playwriting class designed specifically for him by Professor of Communications Marty Langford. Over the semester, the script underwent seven revisions before reaching its final form.
The result is a psychological and emotional journey that Hamblin describes as a battle between two opposing selves. “The War in Mind is a one-man show about two personalities of a young African American man battling against one another,” he explained. “It reflects old and new beliefs about human nature and psychological struggles.”
The character of Hugo is a poet who has isolated himself from the world after a breakdown. He is cynical and resistant to change. Nova Heart, his extroverted alter ego, is energetic and romantic but insecure about who he truly is. Both seek guidance from an unseen therapist, who helps them navigate their conflict.
“This play comes from my point of view of what I experienced in my life,” Hamblin said. “Growing up, I was surrounded by negativity. I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t feel satisfied with myself. I always held negative memories that limited my ability to grow.”
Through writing and performing The War in Mind, Hamblin found a way to process those experiences. “This one is me,” he said. “It’s like venting. It’s showing me who I was, and who I am now. It’s me looking at a younger version of myself and telling him, ‘We’re OK.’”
The play is raw and unfiltered—appropriate for audiences 18 and older—and is staged to create an intimate experience, with audience members seated on both sides of the stage. Hamblin believes the setting will bring viewers closer to the emotion of the performance.
Throughout the process, Hamblin credits Assistant Dean of Student Support and Experiential Learning Frank Borrelli with keeping him accountable when things became difficult. “He believed in me, which is why he had the hard talks with me,” Hamblin said. “He helped me believe in myself, and this is the payoff. This is a play I built from the ground up, and people will come to see what I’ve built.”
The playwright hopes the production will not only resonate with others but also inspire them. “There is so much untapped potential that people have, and they wait for that big lucky break to really show it,” he said. “If you have that potential, you should do something that defines who you are as a person, no matter how small.”
As part of his internship requirement, Hamblin is treating this project as a launchpad for future work. He graduated in May and hopes to bring The War in Mind to other colleges and universities.
“This play is the start for me,” he said. “After this, the universe will tell me.”
And perhaps most importantly, The War in Mind has allowed him to reclaim a sense of serenity.
“Inside of me, there is no more war,” Hamblin said. “There is peace at last.”
The War in Mind will be performed over two nights, Friday, August 22, and Saturday, August 23, 7:30 p.m. at AIC's Griswold Theatre and is open to the public ages 18+.