The Department of Theatre’s production of Jeff Augustin’s Corktown, Or Through the Valley of Dry Bones is a story of racial economic disparity, gentrification, and the price of “renaissance.” In this Conversations with CAL, hear more about the production with Dr. Chamara Jewel Kwakye, Director of Corktown, and Academic Specialist in the Department of African American and African Studies, and Abigail Tykocki, Production Manager and Academic Specialist in the Department of Theatre.

This discussion focuses on how the show was selected for the Department of Theatre’s 2022-2023 season and Kwakye’s role as Guest Director. The conversation also highlights the play’s impact on discussions around social identity in casting, the student experience, and the use of theatre to explore the effects of social and cultural norms on society. Corktown runs from Oct. 14-23, 2022.

Read more about the production in the related article: ‘Corktown’ Production Shines Spotlight on Gentrification.