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HUMAN RITES

by SETH ROZIN
directed by HARRIET POWER

March 23 - April 15, 2018

Tuesday - Wednesday @ 7pm
Thursday - Saturday @ 8pm
Sunday @ 2pm

Running time: 90 minutes

Cast

Kimberly S. Fairbanks
Michaela
Joe Guzman
Alan
Lynnette Freeman
Lydia

Production Team

Seth Rozin Playwright
Harriet Power Director
Kittson O'Neill Dramaturg
Colin McIlvaine Set Designer
Jerry Forsyth Lighting Designer
Lizzy Pecora Costume Designer
Daniel Kontz SoundDesigner
John Wendling Properties
Lauren Tracy Production Manager
Tom Helmer Stage Manager/InterAct
Philadelphia Scenic Works Scene Shop
D'Arcy Dersham Dialect Coach
Paige Zubel Production Assistant

A new play inspired by the work of Dr. Richard Shweder and the lived experiences of Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu. Michaela, an African American dean at a major American university, summons Alan, a renowned professor of cultural psychology, in response to student protest over his controversial paper on female initiation rites in sub-Saharan Africa. But dormant feelings from an affair years earlier turn a heated argument over science and cultural pluralism into a knock-down, drag-out fight. Rozin’s provocative play shatters the ivory tower of academia, upending questions of privilege and Western morality.

MORE ON DRs. AHMADU and SHWEDER - who will be HERE for our Free Symposium on March 31.

MEET THE CAST

A FREE SYMPOSIUM

THE LIVES OF OTHERS
Saturday, March 31st from 4-6 pm
A conversation about the parallel pursuits of playwriting and anthropology.

This free symposium is presented in conjunction with InterAct’s production of HUMAN RITES, which ignites vital questions: 

·    When does someone have the “right” to chronicle another culture? 

·    What role might identity politics play in both anthropological research & playwriting? 

·    Do we need to choose between subjectivity and objectivity, between authenticity and the creative imagination? 
 

Where
The Proscenium Theatre at The Drake (302 S. Hicks Street)

Who

Richard Shweder, Professor of cultural psychology at the University of Chicago, whose paper What about Female Genital Mutilation? And Why the Question of Culture Matters in the First Place, inspired HUMAN RITES

Fuambai Sia Ahmadu, Anthropological scholar whose life and research has been a primary source for HUMAN RITES 

Deborah Thomas, Professor of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania

Gordon Bermant, Lecturer in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania

Mashuq Deen, Playwright & actor, whose autobiographical one-man show, DRAW THE CIRCLE will be performed at InterAct in June

Seth Rozin, Playwright of HUMAN RITES and Producing Artistic Director of InterAct

INTERCONNECTIONS supported by PNC ARTS ALIVE!

Consistent with the themes of HUMAN RITES, InterAct is partnering with Intercultural Journeys and their mission to promote understanding and peace through the performing arts. More information to come on speakers and events related to this partnership. 

• PAY WHAT YOU CAN PERFORMANCE of HUMAN RITES
  Thursday, March 22 @ 8 pm will be dedicated to Intercultural Journeys -- All proceeds will go to their organization

Coffee Conversations
On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, feature informal discussions with the artists and complimentary coffee from Rival Bros. and treats from Insomnia Cookies.

Speaker Sundays
following Sunday matinee performances, these are curated conversations led by invited scholars, community leaders, and experts in the themes of the play.

APRIL 1 - BRIAN EARP: Associate Director; Yale-Hastings Program in Ethics and Health Policy 

APRIL 8 -  Fuambai Sia Ahmadu, Anthropological scholar whose life and research has been a primary source for HUMAN RITES  - more on Dr. Ahmadu here

APRIL 15 - TBD

Audience Discussions/Other Speakers
Discussions occur after every other performance during the run. These are often facilitated by local community members to foster conversation after the show, connecting the themes and events of the play to our larger community.

Highlighted Discussions: 

FRI. MARCH 30th - Dr. Richard Shweder, Professor of cultural psychology at the University of Chicago, whose paper What about Female Genital Mutilation? And Why the Question of Culture Matters in the First Place, inspired HUMAN RITES more on Dr. Shweder here

SAT. MARCH 31 - Shannon Smith, Mary Chartier, & Takura Nyamfukudza Michgan lawyers in the explosive case on Female Genital Cutting practices that is currently taking place in Detroit.

Captioning at INTERACT

• Sunday, April 8 @ 2 PM - Open captioned performance
• Friday, April 13 @ 8 pm -  Spanish captioned performance