MARQUETTE -- The Forest Roberts Theater at Northern Michigan University has brought the Middle East to the Upper Peninsula in "The Near East."
The show's director, Ansley Valentine, says the play offers a Western audience with a glimpse of Middle Eastern culture.
"I think in the play, the characters challenge each other's prejudices and preconceived notions," said Ansley Valentine. "A lot of this play is really about faith, developing a faith with God, and how no matter where it is that you're from, everybody has to do that."
Valentine selected "The Near East" in part because of a grant given to NMU by the Department of Education to expand a Middle Eastern curriculum, and it seems to have resonated with student actors like Cody Johnson.
"I've learned about them earlier in history classes, but I've really come into contact with my character because of this play, and because of that, I've learned more about the Islamic religion," explained Johnson, a freshmen at NMU.
Johnson and the rest of the cast spent winter break preparing for the role, and for some, this meant studying the Arabic language. The show's organizers hope the cast's hard work will draw in their classmates and friends.
"We're hoping to get more students to come see our shows, and picking a contemporary play like this, I hope, will draw more of the student crowd in. I think anybody who comes will be affected by this play," Valentine said.
"The Near East" is currently running at the Black Box Theater each weeknight at 7:30 p.m. as well as next week. Following its run at NMU, the show hits the road for a brief stint in Canton, Ohio.
The play may not be suitable for a younger crowd as it contains strong language.
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