A thriller about prejudice and its dark manifestations is the fall theater production from Fitchburg State University’s Communications Media Department. “American Underground,” written by Brent Askari and directed by university Professor Kelly Morgan, will be staged in November at the Wallace Theater for the Performing Arts at the McKay Complex, 67 Rindge Road. Admission is free and open to the public.
In “American Underground,” playwright Brent Askari shines a spotlight on America’s history of constructing a societal Other. Just like the Irish, Italians, Jewish, Japanese and other waves of immigration before them; Muslims in Askari’s fictional, near-future America face persecution on a widespread, deadlier scale.
The play follows Jeff and his family as their ethics and morals are put on trial when they decide to shelter Sherri, a Muslim-American hiding from the Government. Will freedom ring at the end of the story or will the more vulnerable members of our society become just another statistic?
“American Underground” is presented by Fitchburg State University’s Communications Media Department in association with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Fitchburg. There will be an audience discussion following the debut performance on Wednesday, Nov. 13, with Furqan Mehmud of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
“This play is about Islam and it gives us an opportunity to combat Islamophobia,” Mehmud said. “Hopefully it will make people aware of Islam and lead them to ask questions to combat the misinformation out there.”
The production is being mounted with two full casts, composed of current Fitchburg State students as well as alumni, who will take the stage on alternating performances.
The play will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13; Thursday, Nov. 14; Friday, Nov. 15; Wednesday, Nov. 20; Thursday, Nov. 21; Friday, Nov. 22; and Saturday, Nov. 23. There will also be matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; Sunday, Nov. 17; and Sunday, Nov. 24.