Confederates

The Department of Theatre and Dance presents Confederates, a play by Dominique Morisseau. The production invites audiences to confront the lasting impacts of racism and sexism in America through two narratives from different time periods.

Confederates focuses on the journeys of two black women. One is a political science professor navigating being a minority in academia, and the other is an enslaved woman living over 100 years earlier, existing just before the Civil War begins. Though their lives are different, they both endure criticism, bias, and racism, revealing similarities that remain the same over time. The play flips between the two eras using heavy dialogue and intense emotion to highlight both women’s personal and societal conflicts. Morisseau’s script showcases how systems of oppression adapt across generations, and how black women continue to face and deal with them.

Confederates brings together stories from history and issues we still face today, encouraging people to discuss and reflect on fairness and justice. The audience can expect a performance that is both engaging and thoughtful, showing how challenges from the past continue to shape the world we live in now.

Montclair State University’s staging of Confederates offers students and community members an opportunity to engage with these themes in a theatrical setting. The production is held at the Life Hall Studio Theatre.

Upcoming shows:

• Thursday, November 20 @ 7:30 pm
• Friday, November 21 @ 7:30 pm
• Saturday, November 22 @ 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm