Birmingham Hosts 7th Annual Human Rights New Works Festival Featuring New Play “Dissonance” on Race and Friendship

Birmingham Community Gathers for Human Rights Festival with New Play “Dissonance”

Birmingham residents are gearing up for a thought-provoking weekend at the 7th Annual Human Rights New Works Festival, set to take place from September 20 through September 22. This year’s festival features an array of original works, including the highly anticipated reading of Dissonance, a unique drama highlighting the complexities of race and friendship.

The Premise of “Dissonance”

Dissonance, written by Florida-based friends and collaborators Marci Duncan and Kerry Sandell, delves into the challenges faced by two friends—one Black and one White—as they open a café together in a historic Black neighborhood in Pensacola, Florida. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of significant societal events, notably the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and seeks to spark discussions on race that many find uncomfortable but necessary.

“This play is about two friends opening up a café together, and because of some events that happen, they now have to be honest with one another,” explained Duncan, who plays Angela, one of the lead characters. She continued, “They’ve dodged it in the past, but this time they have no choice but to confront their truths.”

Event Details

The reading of Dissonance will take place on Saturday, September 21 at 2 p.m. at the Red Mountain Theatre. This two-person drama is part of a larger event that showcases four new pieces over the three-day festival.

“We’re very much divided,” said Sandell, who portrays Lauren in the play. “It shows a portrait of us as Americans or as humans.” The play taps into pressing matters that remain relevant, even years after the tragic events that prompted national conversations about systemic racism.

Origins of the Play

The inception of Dissonance emerged during the height of the pandemic. Duncan and Sandell, both theater artists and mothers, found themselves reflecting on their experiences and the conversations they had with their sons regarding race. They began collaborating via Zoom, exchanging ideas through a shared Google document. “We had these conversations that Lauren and Angela have in the play, but we were living through a unique set of circumstances,” Sandell noted.

Through this collaborative process, they uncovered deeply-rooted feelings and perceptions about race, some of which many people may never voice openly. “We have difficult conversations, but it’s not a scary play. It shows one way that people can have a conversation about race,” said Sandell.

A Call for Understanding

Duncan emphasizes the importance of understanding and unity as the ultimate goal of such dialogues. “We need to hear each other. We need to understand each other, even if we don’t agree,” she stated, urging the community to initiate honest discussions about race, especially with those they know personally.

The festival aims to create a platform for exploring these important topics through art. “As long as your end goal is to understand, and to bring unity, I think those are healthy discussions to have with one another,” Duncan remarked.

Looking Ahead

The Human Rights New Works Festival promises to be a weekend of introspection and dialogue, inviting attendees to engage with these vital issues through the lens of theater. As the community comes together to witness Dissonance and other original works, it remains clear that the journey toward understanding one another continues—both on and off the stage.

For lovers of theater and community discussions, the reading of Dissonance serves as both a reminder and an invitation: change begins with conversation.