University Theatre presents live reading of ‘American Son’

Thursday, September 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Hansen Theatre

MSUM’s University Theatre opens a season of theatre events with a live reading of a timely play titled American Son on Thursday, Sept. 24.

The play, written by Christopher Demos-Brown, follows an estranged bi-racial couple who must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop incident. Their disparate histories and backgrounds come into play as they try to find out what happened to their son. Jered Pigeon, director of MSUM’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will lead a Q & A session following the reading.

American Son premiered at the Berkshires’ Barrington Stage Company in 2016. The play gained considerable attention in New York City with the announcement that director Kenny Leon was bringing the show to Broadway, with Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, Jeremy Jordan and Eugene Lee in starring roles.

The live performance of American Son is rated PG-13 and starts at 7:30 p.m. in Hansen Theatre in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts. Masks are mandatory for audience members, and physical distancing policies will be implemented. No at-door sales. All tickets must be purchased in advance at www.mnstate.edu/tickets.