The Dust
The play presents a series of seemingly unrelated scenes unfolding at what the writer calls the “instant of explosion.” Explosion of a building? Of a city? Of individual lives? A mother meets an estranged son. A professional couple debate what they choose to know about how they will die. A surrogate mother imagines starting a new world with the birth father. The Dust presents fragments of lives hovering on the brink of annihilation, and yet, all these people are doing their very best to move beyond fear to live lives of authentic happiness. Annelise Finnegan’s translation gives Hsu’s beautiful work a clear theatrical voice. First produced in November of 2013 in Taiwan, this is the U.S. premiere of The Dust.
Our Friday, November 18 performance will include a Post-show discussion with director William Whitaker, translator Annelise Finegan, and playwright Hsu Yen Ling.
By Hsu Yen Ling
Translation by Annelise Finegan
Directed by William Whitaker
November 17, 18 & 19* at 8 p.m.
November 19 & 20 at 2 p.m.
A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre
*ASL interpretation for the Saturday, November 19, 2022 production is provided by Lo’s Communicate Plus, LLC.
Annelise Finegan’s English translation of “The Dust” was originally commissioned and produced by the Performing Arts Department at Washington University in St. Louis with special permission from and in cooperation with the playwright, Hsu Yen Ling.
This production of The Dust is supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
COVID-19 Policy
Health and Safety Policies
- Wearing a face mask is optional but strongly encouraged at Edison Theatre and the A. E. Hotchner Studio Theatre. If you arrive to the venue and decide you would like a face mask, the staff will be happy to provide one.
- While we encourage patrons to be fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test will not be required for attending events.
- We are seating up to 100% capacity for events in Edison Theatre and the A. E. Hotchner Studio Theatre. Depending on total attendance, some general admission events may allow for socially distanced seating.
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