Theatre Arts addresses harassment and diversity through new play

The Theatre Arts Department of Virginia Tech will present a workshop production of "[classified]: untold stories of virginia tech," by master of fine arts candidate Megan Carney.

“[classified]” is a new play based on true stories addressing issues of safety and harassment in the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg communities. Performances will take place Monday, March 19; Wednesday, March 21; and Thursday March 29 at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, March 30 at 4 p.m. All performances will be in Torgersen Museum, in Torgersen Hall on the Virginia Tech campus.

“[classified]” is a response to students’ demands for administrative attention toward hateful speech and discriminatory actions on campus. The performance and public dialogue events are intended to catalyze dialogue and raise visibility as a way of addressing the need for intervention in these matters. The cast of six actors presents true stories provided by Virginia Tech students and faculty who have experienced harassment and social injustice. There will be opportunities for audience dialogue throughout the play, allowing those in attendance to voice their thoughts on how these issues affect their Virginia Tech and Blacksburg communities, and to develop ideas that promote positive change within the community.

Megan Carney is the writer and director of “[classified].” She is a second year master of fine arts candidate in directing and public dialogue. Carney believes the play poses two questions: What does it take to end harassment? What does it take to stand up for what you believe?

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with some really inspiring people through this project," Carney said. "It is an honor to tell their stories. I hope this series of events opens opportunities for talking about things that we all carry around--things we worry about, things we wish were different, and things that help us to identify the sort of community we want to live in.”

Carney has written and directed several new plays based on true stores with a variety of communities in Chicago. She is a founding director of About Face Youth Theatre, and spent part of her summer at Bard College in the Voices and Visions program, developing a new play about women and madness with Chicago’s Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. At Virginia Tech she has directed workshop productions of Jorge Ignacio Cortinas’ “Sleepwalkers,” and Caryl Churchill’s “Ice Cream.”

All performances of “[classified]: untold stories of virginia tech” are free and open to the public. Torgersen Museum comfortably sits 100 people; so patrons are advised to arrive early to ensure entrance to the show.

For information about Theatre Arts at Virginia Tech or other events in this season, call the School of the Arts Information Line at (540) 231-5200.