Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis commissioned me to write and direct a full-length artistic piece based on the prompt “imagine a u.s. without racism.” I embarked on a journey through zoom windows and cell phones, with a goal of interviewing over 100 people across the United States to create the play which will premiere April 8 - May 1, 2022.
The backstory:
The origin of the commission was an April 30, 2021 email from Jack Reuler, Artistic Director of Mixed Blood Theatre. He wrote: “If you could do one theatrical thing that provided the right platform to say what you have to say politically and artistically, what would it be, and can you do it at Mixed Blood before I go?” After 45 seasons running the theater company he founded, Jack had announced his retirement from Mixed Blood, and, as he has done for so many artists, he was offering me a tremendous opportunity.
The interviewees, two from each state, span the political spectrum, range in age from 16 to 85, come from a diversity of racial, ethnic, gender, religious, and geographic identities, abilities, sexual orientations, vocations, and socio-economic backgrounds. I have interviewed 71 so far. I am still seeking interviewees from Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. If you know any potential interviewees to recommend in any of these states who you could introduce me to, please contact me!
The conversations are illuminating, inspiring, heartbreaking and motivating. I have begun to capture some of their thoughts and ideas in this imagine a u.s. without racism blog. Some of the voices in this blog are echoed in the play, but with over 100 interviewees, there were many great conversations which didn't make it into the script. I hope to honor them in the blog.
Rehearsals begin next month. Check out the creative team below.
