Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ACASA) will present the play, “Actually,” on the campus of University of the Ozarks on Wednesday, March 8. Written by Anna Ziegler, the play brings to life the struggles of consent, Title IX and the consequences of blurred lines on a college campus.
The play will begin at 7 p.m. in the BlackBox Theatre in the Walton Fine Arts Center and there is no cost for admission. This production contains sexually and racially charged language, including conversations about rape and a reference to bigotry. Advocates will be present at each performance.
The play will feature a pair of U of O theatre alumni — Petron Brown ’21 and Lacye Day ’21. Brown is a graduate student in the theatre program at University of Southern Mississippi and Day is the prevention education director at ACASA. The play is directed by former U of O theatre professor Rebecca Bailey, who is the education program director at ACASA.
“ACASA once is once again approaching the difficult topic of sexual assault in a way that opens discussion around the complex issue,” said Bailey. “While it has more than a few moments that ring witty and make us laugh, the two-person play paints an intelligent and riveting look at the struggles of balancing college life, consent, and the pressures that influence us. “
The production centers around Amber and Tom, who are finding their way as freshmen at Princeton and who spend a night together that alters the course of their lives.
“They agree on the drinking, they agree on the attraction, but consent is foggy, and if unspoken, can it be called consent? With lyricism and wit, ‘Actually’ investigates gender and race politics, our crippling desire to fit in and the three sides to every story,” Bailey said. “For all of us, who are or have ever been impacted as a young adult by sexual assault, ‘Actually’ begins to put a human face to one of these stories.”
There will be a talkback with advocates, Title IX staff, actors, and the director following the production.
Topics: About, Campus Life, Theatre