Play about Benton Harbor premieres at Mendel

Tribune Staff Report
·1 min read
"Our Side of the River" will be presented by Lake Michigan College's department of visual and performing arts from Nov. 19 to 21 at the Mendel Center.
"Our Side of the River" will be presented by Lake Michigan College's department of visual and performing arts from Nov. 19 to 21 at the Mendel Center.

BENTON HARBOR — Lake Michigan College’s department of visual & performing arts presents the world premiere of “Our Side of the River” from Nov. 19 to 21 at the Mendel Center, 2755 E. Napier Ave.

The one-act play, written by Chicago playwright Terry Guest and directed by LMC Theatre Coordinator Paul Mow, is based on the book of the same name published last year by Benton Harbor Area Schools. Through poetry and narrative essays, students in grades seven through 12 shared reflections about their experiences growing up in Benton Harbor, their sense of belonging, as well as media perceptions about their community and that of neighboring St. Joseph.

The cast includes a mix of LMC students and community members.

Following the Nov. 20 performance, Guest, a member of the 2020-2021 Goodman Theatre Playwrights Unit, will lead a post-show panel discussion and Q&A session.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20 and at 3 p.m. Nov. 21.

Tickets are $18-$12; free for LMC students, faculty and staff and ages 18 and younger.

For more information, call 269-927-8700 or visit themendelcenter.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Play about Benton Harbor premiers at Mendel Center