This weekend, you’re invited to UNC’s campus to experience a theatrical work in progress: a staged reading of a play developed through conversations with death-row inmates across the country.

The play is called “Count.” Written by Lynden Harris in conjunction with Hidden Voices, the play examines the lives of six men on death row. Harris has worked on the piece for several years, forging strong relationships with numerous inmates along the way.

This weekend’s performance will be a staged reading, but the curtain will go up on the finished product later this year: UNC’s PlayMakers Repertory Company will stage “Count” as part of their PRC2 series next season.

Lynden Harris spoke Wednesday with WCHL’s Aaron Keck.

 

“Count” – the title is derived from the headcount that begins and ends each day in prison – will be staged on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, at 8 pm at Swain Hall Studio 6. (Admission is free, but there’s a 5-dollar suggested donation.) In addition to the two readings, there will also be a panel discussion on the death penalty Thursday, March 2, from 4:30-6:00 at the Center for the Study of the American South (410 E. Franklin Street); Harris will speak along with Jennifer Thompson of Healing Justice and UNC professors Frank Baumgartner and Isaac Unah.

Learn more about “Count” – and reserve seats – at this link.

Hidden Voices is an organization dedicated to giving people a chance to express themselves – especially those who are marginalized, silenced, or otherwise rarely heard. (Harris is its founder.)

“Count” is part of UNC’s Process Series – an annual series of innovative works in progress, part of UNC’s Department of Communication.