A local story. A Hancher commission
Sean Christopher Lewis
and Working Group Theatre, Mayberry
Friday–Saturday, April 27–28, 7:30 pm; Sunday, April 29, 2 pm — Riverside Theatre
Imagine a Midwestern community—a relatively small, overwhelmingly white, well-educated, and culturally-engaged college town, perhaps—that prides itself on its acceptance of diversity. Then imagine an influx of immigrants from a neighboring metropolis coming to that community, bringing with them new opportunities as well as new challenges.
Hancher has partnered with playwright Sean Christopher Lewis and Working Group Theatre to create Mayberry, a new work that will explore the impact of Iowa City's increasing African American population. It's an Iowa story with national implications, asking how, in an enlightened world, do we embrace and engage in true discourse about living together in communities in transition. Mayberry includes adult language and themes.
"And my mom called me and said, 'You gots to escape Chicago honey and come to Iowa. It's like Mayberry out here.' And I said, 'Mom! There ain't no black folks in Mayberry...'"
This event is supported by an anonymous family foundation and the Hancher Partners.
