Founding Values: Dramatic Reflections

This event will consist of original performances by Graduate Playwriting Students and Faculty at ASU related to the values expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
 

Organized in partnership with the School of Music, Dance and Theatre.

Written by Idris Goodwin

A Living Newspaper is a performance that explores current social and political issues through a series of short, connected scenes. Inspired by the Federal Theatre Project, it brings real-world stories to the stage and invites the audience to think about the world around them.

Written by Hannah Holt

Directed by: Miranda March
Starring: Vanessa Longoria, Analiz Lara-Lopez, Leroy Hood

A Pursuit for American Daughters is a 10 minute play about two ambitious high school friends who depart on a dangerous journey across the Sonoran Desert. Grappling with American ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they encounter Arizona’s fiercest predators, harsh landscape and the trials of friendship. This play examines current U.S. immigration tactics and asks if freedom is something to be bargained for. 

Written by Chelsea Hoy

Directed by: Nellie Speers
Starring: Vincent Buttafuoco, Avery Magpoc, and Neaja Thomas

Incongruous is a ten minute play about Arizona’s House Bill 2161, a law that mandates school employees must report to student parents if a student discloses any information about a non-conforming gender identity, non-conforming sexuality, or mental health struggles, to them. When a young transgender student comes out to their teacher, this play interrogates, does this law, in our current educational systems, truly adhere to our nation’s founding values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of pursuit of happiness?

Written and directed by Johann Choi

Actors: Laynee Sears and Sergiy Holmer

Tin Man, a refugee from Oz, thinks he has found sanctuary in activist Jim's apartment, but soon learns he may have overstayed his welcome. 

Founding Values is an event series designed for ASU and the surrounding community to distance ourselves from partisan politics and reflect on the values represented in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

The semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, offers us a unique and timely opportunity to ask if we are upholding those values, and what we can do as a community to protect those values—if we think that they ought to be protected.

In response to a call for proposed sessions, the Lincoln Center received many timely and important proposals from faculty, students and community members. We are thrilled to be able to offer support for such a diverse set of sessions through the event series.

Founding Values will host six events over three weeks: from April 15 to 28. The event series is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. 

For more information about the event series, please visit: https://lincolncenter.asu.edu/founding-values. 

Thank you to the Jack Miller Center for funding.