Ensemble cast to perform a collection of five short plays exploring police brutality and discrimination against the Black community
Mia Godfrey, an Indiana University Northwest Performing Arts student graduating this August, is directing a series of plays entitled “Facing Our Truth: Short Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege.” Performances will take place in the Mainstage Theater in the Arts & Sciences Building on June 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and June 4 at 3 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public.
First performed in 2013, “Facing Our Truth” was commissioned by the New Black Fest theater festival in Brooklyn, N.Y. in response to the killings of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Rekia Boyd, and other African-American victims of police brutality. Playwrights known for diverse styles and perspectives were selected for the commission.
Drawn to the plays’ themes of racial biases, stereotypes, heartbreak, loss, and enlightenment, Godfrey selected “Facing Our Truth” for her directorial debut to bring Black activism and the Black Lives Matter movement to the Theatre Northwest stage. “[These plays] are important to me because it’s concerning that I am considered a threat before I am considered a human being,” said Godfrey. “These plays explain that beautifully.”
A seven-member ensemble will perform all roles. Godfrey assembled the company through open auditions and utilized her connections to Merrillville High School where she graduated in 2018. She is also supported by a production team of students and volunteers led by scenic designer and fellow 2022 Performing Arts graduate Eric Diaz.
This production will fulfill Godfrey’s final graduation requirement at Indiana University Northwest. Honored with the Outstanding Senior Award in the Theatre program, Godfrey will graduate with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and minors in Business Administration and Psychology.
“Facing Our Truth” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. and features works by Mona Mansour, Tala Manasah, Dominique Morisseau, Winter Miller, A Rey Pamatmat, and Marcus Gardley.
Learn more at iun.edu/theatre or by calling 219-980-6810.
