Artistic Team:

Directed by Godfrey Simmons

Written by Judy Tate

Scenic Design by Lynne Porter

Costume Design by Julie Leavitt-Learson

Produced by Lynne Porter

Performances:

Theatre Fairfield presented and recorded Project X in December 2021. 

We made the video to continue the impact of this work into the future.

Producer's Note from the Project X playbill

by Prof. Lynne Porter

I want to share some context, so everyone understands both why Theatre Fairfield commissioned Project X and how we developed this piece. 

Let’s start with the why. In the summer of 2020 numerous things happened, throwing our country and the theatre industry into turmoil:

• The Covid pandemic and resultant shutdown made everything feel toxic and dangerous.
• George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor were killed in circumstances that highlighted the wildly different ways that White and Black people are treated in our society. 
• Millions of Americans flooded the streets, protesting the treatment of Black Americans. 
• Hundreds of theatre artists of color signed a letter titled “We See You White American Theatre,” calling out the lack of diversity and inclusion in the entire theatre industry.

In light of this racial reckoning, the Theatre Program faculty quickly agreed to join our professional colleagues by making our little corner of the world more racially inclusive. In addition to examining and changing some policies within Theatre Fairfield, we also decided to use our theatre-making skills to highlight issues around race and privilege. We know that theatre allows us to examine complex issues, while inspiring empathy--which is just what we need right now. This piece grew out of that commitment. 

Now about how we made this Project X. When I first talked with Godfrey Simmons about making an original piece about race and privilege for Theatre Fairfield, he said something that resonated. He mentioned that in a script, the real words of real people can be more impactful than fictional words spoken by fictional characters. So, we began a long devising process, where a script is based on interviews and first-person stories. Godfrey led the process, but this piece is the work of many hands. I reached out to the entire Fairfield University community--administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni--asking for help both gathering and contributing stories of Fairfield U. A valiant group of folks--alumni, students, staff, faculty, and administrators--volunteered to be the Core Team doing the story-gathering. In the spring of 2021, the Core Team met over zoom for 15 evening sessions, talking about race, privilege, and life at Fairfield. We collaborated on strategies we would use when interviewing people, and conceived this production. Each Core Team member then interviewed numerous members of the Fairfield community about their experience of race on campus, making sure that we were gathering a wide range of stories. Then Godfrey worked with our playwright Judy Tate, combing through hundreds of hours of interviews and reams of data, before crafting the script performed here. In a very real way, Project X is the story of the Fairfield University community. This entire piece has featured a fabulous generosity of spirit from everyone involved, which is truly inspiring. 

What was evident in all our Core Team meetings, interviews, and rehearsals? The stakeholders of Fairfield University share a deep love for the institution, along with a desire to make the University a better place--a place where everyone can belong. 

This is a script-in-hand reading, which allows for a shorter rehearsal process and more flexibility with an evolving script. Our intrepid actors were each attracted to Project X because they wanted to be part of this important conversation for our campus. We are so proud of the result of this process. The experience has opened many new and surprising avenues to explore in our work. To Godfrey and Judy, we welcome you to our Theatre Fairfield family and look forward to many future collaborations.

We hope Project X will inspire searching conversations and genuine change. Theatre Fairfield is committed to putting some positive ripples into the water. You, our audience, are an essential part of this, and we thank you for being part of the process. 

--Lynne Porter, Producer