Human Rites
Play Description
Michaela, an African American dean at a major American university, summons Alan, a renowned professor of cultural psychology, in response to student protest over his controversial paper on female initiation rites in sub-Saharan Africa. But dormant feelings from an affair years earlier turn a heated argument over science and cultural pluralism into a knock-down, drag-out fight. Rozin's provocative play shatters the ivory tower of academia, upending questions of privilege and Western morality.
Production Info
Cast: 3 total (2 female, 1 male)Full Length Drama (about 90 minutes)
Single Set
Contemporary Costumes
- Reviews
- About the Author(s)
- About the Book
- Special Notes
Press Quotes
“Fast-paced and riveting … be prepared to have your eyes opened, your own pre-conceived notions debunked, and your head left spinning … I highly recommend it.” —Broadway World
“HUMAN RITES soars with mind-blowing ideas.” —Broad Street Review
“When Westerners decry the practices of other cultures, and campaign for change, they may mean well. But are they really spreading enlightenment, or shame? Who gets to decide whether an initiation rite is barbaric or an exemplary form of bonding? Are there any cultural absolutes, or are all cultural norms equally valid? This constellation of questions animates Seth Rozin’s crafty and invigorating play, HUMAN RITES.” —Julia Klein, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Plays like HUMAN RITES — thoughtfully written and thought-provoking — are what keep a lot of people, myself included, eagerly going to the theater.” —WHYY-FM
“It’s so refreshing to experience a play that relentlessly challenges its audience to rethink its assumptions, about both big-picture issues and the human characters wrestling with them.” —Indianapolis Business Journal
Author(s)
Seth RozinSeth Rozin is the author of more than a dozen plays, including MEN OF STONE (produced by Theater Catalyst, nominated for a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play), MISSING LINK (produced by InterAct Theatre Company, nominated for a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play), REINVENTING EDEN (produced by InterAct), BLACK GOLD (National New Play Network rolling world premieres at InterAct, Phoenix Theatre, Prop Thtr, Arts West), TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR… (National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere at Florida Stage, New Jersey Rep, Writers Theatre of New Jersey, Shadowland Stages, Unicorn Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, InterAct, Florida Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre, Barter Theatre, Jewish Theatre of Grand Rapids and New Repertory Theatre), THE THREE CHRISTS OF MANHATTAN (produced by InterAct), and HUMAN RITES (produced at Phoenix Theatre & InterAct; winner of the 2018 Brown Martin Philadelphia Award). Seth also wrote the book, lyrics and music for a musical ENTITLED A PASSING WIND, which received its premiere at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ inaugural Philadelphia Inernational Festival of the Arts in 2011. He is the recipient of two playwriting fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, NNPN's Smith Prize, as well as a new play commission from the Foundation for Jewish Culture. Seth is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of InterAct Theatre Company in Philadelphia, where he has directed over 50 productions, including 30 world premieres, and has twice served as President of National New Play Network.
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
World Premiere produced by Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana,
Bryan Fonseca, Producing Director
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypub.com
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