One Act Peace Play re-examines cultural issues
Event: Winter One Act
Date and time: Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. (ASL interpreted)
Location: Goshen College Umble Center
Cost: $5, tickets available at the door or by calling (574) 535-7566
Note: This play includes mature content and some offensive language.
The Goshen College Theater Department will perform the one act play “Bombers” during Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. (ASL interpreted) in Goshen College’s Umble Center. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door or by calling (574) 535-7566
Written by Jonathan Graham, “Bombers” is returning to Goshen College, where it was the 1998 Peace Play prize winner.
“Given that the last edit to the script of ‘Bombers’ was ten years ago, the subject matter and themes are still strikingly and painfully real today,” said the play’s director, Nick Peebles, a junior theater and communication major from Chicago. “Islamophobia, victim-blaming/rape culture, media bias, terrorism and racism are still massive social, political and cultural issues, and show no signs of diminishing.”
This story is not simply representation of these issues and our reactions to them, though. The script goes so far as to accuse the audience of the play, pointing out how eager we are to blame someone different from ourselves for a violent act. The end result is an aggressive, direct and frighteningly relevant critique of our society and our collective knee-jerk reactions to violence.
“This play has been living in the back of my mind ever since it won the GC Peace Play Contest,” said Doug Liechty-Caskey, professor of theater. “We so quickly rush to judgment with every ounce of ‘breaking news’ hoping to make sense of the world’s horrors by blaming everyone but ourselves.”
“Bombers” is directed by Nick Peebles. Riley Woods, a junior from North Manchester, Indiana, is stage director. The cast includes A’Sean Street, a sophomore from Indianapolis; Ben Meyer Reimer, a first-year from Goshen; Jonah Yoder, a first year from Goshen; and Morgan Yordy, a sophomore from Rochelle, Illinios.
Doug Liechty Caskey, professor of theater, is the producer for “Bombers,” and Andrew Moeggenborg, assistant professor of theater, is the technical director. Other members of the production team include: Paul Zehr, senior from Carthage, New York, assistant technical director; Kasey Prentice, a sophomore from Angola, Indiana, set designer; Ben Ganger, a senior from Goshen, light designer; Mary Seeck, a sophomore from Sharonville, Ohio, costume designer; Martin Flowers, a senior from Nappanee, Indiana, sound designer; Alex Hochstetler, a senior from Goshen, props manager; Ally Medellin, a junior from Goshen, hair and make-up designer; Tabitha Immanuel, a sophomore from New Delhi, India, light board operator; and Samantha Horsch, a sophomore from Goshen, sound board operator.
Tickets for the show cost $5 and are available through the Welcome Center by calling (574) 535-7566, or at the Umble Center Box Office an hour before the show. There will be no intermission.
Note: This play includes mature content and some offensive language.