By the People
A Contemporary American Play Festival
A modern American triptych of plays, By the People is a MainStage festival pairing 3 contemporary plays with an evolving lineup of short new works by Ohio playwrights. Each weekend features one of three MainStage productions, and each show opens with a unique short play presentation by an Ohio author. The final weekend is an expanded presentation featuring all of the locally written shorts alongside the MainStage production.
The Amish Project (9/11-13) is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of community and forgiveness in the wake of gun violence. American Moor (9/18-20) is a gripping solo work confronting race, power, and artistic ownership through the lens of a Black actor auditioning for Othello. Lastly, Italian American Reconciliation (9/25-27) is an offbeat, big-hearted romantic comedy about love lost, reclaimed, and fiercely pursued.