INVISIBLE imagines a woman in a small Mississippi town in 1925 who is forced to reconcile her involvement in the modern Women’s Ku Klux Klan movement with her religious beliefs and sense of decency. Wrapping their anti-immigrant mission in a cloak of patriotism following the passage of women’s suffrage, Mabel Carson’s neighbors have convinced her of the justness of their cause, but the arrival in town of a Chicago newspaper reporter just as their WKKK chapter is gaining momentum forces Mabel to question her beliefs. INVISIBLE is a powerful and suspenseful drama in the tradition of American southern-set narrative fiction.
In the 1920s in America, the Women's KKK came into being. By then Black Codes in the South were firmly in place; the oppression was profound and often violent. Unlike the Klans of the Reconstructionist Era and Civil Rights Movement who specifically targeted the African American community, this Klan turned its main attention toward Immigrants, Catholics and Jews. Under the guise of an all welcoming flag of patriotism, they wrapped themselves up in Nationalism, Nativism and Purity -- 100% American. "America for Americans". The newly formed Women's Klan of that era fought their way to power after winning the women's right to vote. They infiltrated churches, schools, civic organizations and appealed to motherhood, the future and safety of children. They were the inventors of "Poison Squads" who spread lies and destroyed reputations. If any of this reminds you of today's climate, come see this show and understand what we collectively inherited from this brief but impactful time in history. It was a movement that swept the nation. It was when the Klan went mainstream in America. While the plot and characters of INVISIBLE are imagined, the descriptions of the WKKK activities are accurate, and actual historical figures are mentioned as off-stage characters.
INVISIBLE was written by Her Story Theater’s Producing Artistic Director Mary Bonnett, author of the company’s earlier productions that comprised its “Chicago Sex Trafficking Cycle.” The cycle includes SHADOW TOWN, voted one of the 2013 “Ten Best Productions of the Year” by Chicago Theater Beat; THE JOHNS, MONEY MAKE ‘M’ SMILE for youth, and 2018’s breakout hit MONGER, of which the SUN TIMES said “It lands with a crushing (and factually supported) weight.” SPLASH MAGAZINE gave it four stars, saying, “The Play’s action is mesmerizing; at a tightly crafted 75 minutes… it hits many nerves at once; anger, disbelief, compassion, fear and a desire to help.” BUZZ CENTER STAGE said “What I really want is for you to go see this play. This is something real.”
INVISIBLE will be directed by longtime Chicago director Cecilie Keenan, who earned raves for her direction of WEDDING BAND in 2017 for The Artistic Home. That production prompted Tony Adler, the then-theater editor of the READER to declare “ So praise the Lord, as one of its characters would certainly say, for the Artistic Home revival of Childress's WEDDING BAND.”
INVISIBLE will be the first HerStory Theater production to be eligible for Chicago's Jeff Awards.
The cast of INVISIBLE
Top row left-right: Morgan Laurel Cohen, Richard Cotovsky, Maddy Flemming, Brad Harbaugh.
Lower row left-right: Barbara Roeder Harris, Megan Kaminsky, Lisa McConnell.
HER STORY THEATER
Her Story Theater is a theater for social change. Through theater and the written word, our mission is to shine bright lights in dark places on women and children in need of social justice and community support. Since 2011, we have partnered with countless organizations to raise awareness on current issues that impact women and children.
LISTING INFORMATION
INVISIBLE
WORLD PREMIERE
Written by Mary Bonnett
Directed by Cecilie Keenan
October 3 – November 3, 2019
Sponsored by the Oppenheimer Family Foundation
Previews Thursday, October 3 through Saturday, October 5
Opening Nights Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 pm and Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 pm
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm, plus Saturday, November 2 at 3 pm
Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Tickets: https://www.stage773.com/show/invisible, 773-327-5252
PRICES: $35.00, Students $15.00
Info: www.HerStoryTheater.org
For information on group rates, visit www.HerStoryTheater.org or call 312-835-1410.
INVISIBLE imagines a woman in a small Mississippi town in 1925 forced to reconcile her involvement in the rising national Women’s Ku Klux Klan movement with her religious beliefs and sense of decency. Her neighbors have convinced her of the justness of the cause, but the arrival in town of a Chicago newspaper reporter just as their WKKK chapter is gaining momentum, forces Mabel to question her involvement and convictions. INVISIBLE is a powerful and suspenseful drama in the tradition of southern narrative fiction that looks back at the nearly forgotten but significant nationwide WKKK movement and its role in promoting bigotry and nativism in the US.