This intriguing mystery, set shortly post-9/11 in a religiously polarized Chicago neighborhood, delves into issues of faith, tolerance, and taking inspiration from the past. A rookie cop and a veteran cop come across characters ranging from a beleaguered Imam, a street child who likes to draw, a New York City firefighter, and a community of Benedictine nuns to solve a case that's making them question their deep-seated assumptions.

Photos by Tony Adams and Halcyon Theatre.

I worked with EM Lewis to develop this world premiere play as part of Halcyon's annual Alcyone Festival. This year, playwrights from across the nation were invited to create a new play that took inspiration from an early female playwright. Lewis was assigned Hrosvitha, a 10th Century German nun. I worked with the playwright throughout rehearsal as she generated several drafts of the script. Collaborating via Skype and e-mail, I was able to share feedback from rehearsal as well as serving as a dramaturg for the play's Chicago setting. I helped guide the actors through the process of rehearsing a mystery whose end has not yet been written. Working in a festival setting, I conceived the world of the play to work in a flexible space.