10/01/2026
Take part in a national theatrical movement this weekend by joining C1 for a pop-up reading of UNDERSIEGE with our partners at Rhythm ‘n Wraps!
Free and open to the public, the presentation is part of Fall Of Freedom, a nationwide movement bringing artists, cultural institutions, and communities together through acts of creative expression.
» About UNDERSIEGE
Curated by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and Tony Award-nominated playwright and MacArthur Fellow Dominique Morisseau, UNDERSIEGE is a monumental collective work centering the voices and experiences of Black women and femmes, bringing together the work of over 35 playwrights.
This project was conceived in response to the continued silencing, displacement, and forced departure of Black women and femme leaders across American institutions, and features pieces from Lydia R. Diamond, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Kirsten Greenidge, Aleshea Harris, Suzan-Lori Parks, Mfoniso Udofia, and more!
The project emerged from a conversation between Nottage and Morisseau following the resignation of Hana Sharif from Arena Stage and amid a broader erosion of Black femme leadership across sectors. From the dismissal of Black women working in the federal government to the silencing and forced resignations of university presidents, politicians, civil servants, educators, and artistic directors, the playwrights felt compelled to respond through a collective act of creative resistance.
» About Fall Of Freedom
Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation. Our democracy is under attack. Threats to free expression are rising. Dissent is being criminalized. Institutions and media have been recast as mouthpieces of propaganda.
This weekend, galleries, museums, libraries, comedy clubs, theaters, and concert halls across the country will host exhibitions, performances, and public events that channel the urgency of this moment. Fall of Freedom is an open invitation to artists, creators, and communities to take part — and to celebrate the experiences, cultures, and identities that shape the fabric of our nation.
