Preview of 'Project X' by Theatre Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT - Lynne Porter, MFA, a Professor of Theatre, Resident Designer, and Director of Graphic Design at Fairfield University, is spearheading a project about race and privilege. This will be the 2021 production of Theatre Fairfield's biennial Theatre in the Raw: The Lucille Lortel Festival of New Works, funded by a generous donation from Ms. Lortel.

Prof. Porter, who is also Co-Producer for Theatre Fairfield, tells me that this will be an original devised piece about race and privilege and that is scheduled to be performed next December. "As the piece is currently in development, and its title has not yet emerged, we are calling it Project X for now," she adds. The project will be a piece centered on Fairfield University, but reflective of America's 21st century struggle with race and social justice.

"As is happening in many other institutions in the American theatre, we are taking the opportunity to re-examine all our practices with an eye toward equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. But our audiences don’t see our processes—all you see is our product: our shows. So we decided to also overtly address race and privilege in a way that our audiences can wrestle with the issues along with us. We hope that Project X will make some positive ripples in the world, as we all work to combat the white privilege that is so damaging in our country," writes Prof. Porter.

I look forward to experiencing what promises to be an important project in December. The professor added this inspiring message in her email to me: "This pandemic, while horrifying and challenging in so many ways, is also inspiring us to break new ground as theatre-makers and artists. It’s exciting and exhausting, but also affirming my long-held belief that theatre artists can affect positive change in the world."

Click here to learn more about Project X.