Play reading traces the history of race relations in America

University Theatre will present a play reading of Dominic Taylor's "Personal History," a play that traces the history of race relations in America through several different decades.

Directed by Stanley Coleman, the play reading will be streamed through Broadway on Demand March 10-14. General admission is $2.95 and UO students get free admission with the code PHUOO.

"Personal History" is connected to this year's Common Reading theme of "Listen. Learn. Act." The play is also timely, addressing current racial disparities, the director said.

“The current attitudes about race make the challenges the characters face so relevant now,” Coleman said in an interview. “Although the story may resonate with the lives of other minorities, this play is uniquely about the struggle that Black people have faced in this country.”

Coleman said he likes the challenge of the play’s use of “magical realism,” which manifests itself through the timelessness of the characters and through several props used in the play. He also said the play's strong but unique structure and poetic dialogue with real and believable characters will appeal to a range of audiences.