A People's Guide to History in the Time of Here and Now Dramaturgical Info
A handy "packet" for Rehana Lew Mirza's play, A People's Guide to History in the Time of Here and Now, the page is sectioned into Definitions and Contextual Articles. For inquiries/comments, feel free to contact the dramaturg.
Setting/Time
NYC: September 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008
Troy, Michigan: November/December 2016
Summary
Loner and grungy Muslim-American student Jennah has just transferred to a small Michigan high school, and during the weeks immediately following the 2016 election, she struggles to find her place as she embarks on a battle of wills against a popular History and Civics teacher. This play asks, "How can we teach history when people have two versions of the present?"
Characters
Jennah Shah (15) - a spirited, angry, precocious, yet shy Muslim highschooler. A female actor of color (South Asian, Middle-Eastern) who has that energy and is quick-witted.
(Dramaturg's note: While Jennah is used to the American pronunciation of her name (as "Jenna", stressing the first syllable), the proper pronunciation actually stresses the last one. Refer to this audio clip:
Peter (15) - white male, a dorky but cute Midwestern high schooler who craves something different and is intellectually curious, younger than his peers in some ways with his innocence
David Hinkley (50s) - white, male, Santa Claus type, well-loved teacher who can be rigid at times, and very unabashedly opinionated, which is part of his appeal. He is a show-boater, king of a small pond, and he likes it that way.
Harold Marcus (40s) - white Principal of the school, hard worker, but easily overwhelmed, well-meaning but overly concerned with optics
Gurpeet Singh (20s and 30s) - a Turban'd Sikh man born and raised in Queens just trying to do the best he can; a station agent aspiring to be an MTA conductor. Play the audio clips to hear a pronunciation of his name.
Lisa (15) - white female, wants to be liked by everyone, easily overwhelmed, hates trying too hard (also plays a 30-year-old MTA worker)
Amanda (15) - female, quiet but tries very hard to fit in, class over-achiever (also plays a 30-year old MTA official who is often strong-armed by
Madeline (15) - white female, sweet as pie mean girl, who is kind of over everything (also plays a 30-year-old MTA worker)
For a pronunciation of her name, play the following audio clip:
Josh (15) - white male, excels at sports, a leader, super confident, but can be a little bull-ish. (also plays an officious MTA administrator)
Dan (15) - male, person of color, gay, a sensitive kid, tries to blend in and go with the flow
Students play adults and adults play students. This is not indicated by a change in tone to sound younger or older. It's simply in the way the students don't think about what they say before they say it, nor do they think about it after they say it. They're serious, careless, and full of real emotions.
Timeline of the Play's Events
To be added.
Rehana Lew Mirza (A People's Guide to History in the Time of the Here and Now) was awarded a 2020 Kleban Award with her husband Mike Lew for most promising librettist. They have written the book to the musical Bhangin' It (with composer/lyricist Sam Willmott.) It received the Richard Rodgers Award and will premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in 2021. Her play A People's Guide to History in the Time of Here and Now was a Primary Stages Virginia B. Toulmin Commission. Other plays: Hatefuck (WP/Colt Coeur); Soldier X (Ma-Yi); Tomorrow, Inshallah (Living Room, KC; Storyworks/HuffPost commission); Neighborhood Watch (NNPN/InterAct commission); and Barriers (Despina, Asian American Theater Company). Honors include: Mellon Foundation National Playwright residency administered in partnership with Howlround at Ma-Yi Theater; NYFA Fellowhip; HBO Access Fellow; Lilly Award. BFA: NYU, Dramatic Writing; MFA: Columbia University, Playwriting. (Photo credit: Christine Chambers)
Definitions/Key Terms
MTA (page ii) - Metropolitan Transit Authority. A public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the New York City metropolitan area of the U.S. state of New York.
MTA conductor exam (18) - According to the 2016 MTA exam notification:"You must achieve a score of at least 70% to pass the test. The multiple-choice test may include questions on: understanding and applying written and verbal instructions relative to the safe and efficient duties of a Conductor; using good judgment and taking proper action in emergencies or stressful situations; relating courteously and informatively to the public; being familiar with the locations of major points of interest in New York City; understanding military time; and other related areas."Related reading: A look at the 'misunderstood' people who work underground for hours to keep New York City's subways running 24/7 by Melissa Kravitz
Boeings (2) - refers to the airplanes hijacked during the September 11 attacks. The colloquial name is taken from its manufacturers, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, which is a division of the Boeing Company. It designs, assembles, markets, and sells jet airliners and business jets.
World Trade Center (2) - the original World Trade Center was a large complex of seven buildings in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. It opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks.For more information on the attacks, refer to the 9/11 page.
Rudy Giuliani (3) - the 107th Mayor of New York City from January 1, 1994 until December 31, 2001. He had a vital role in the governmental response to the 9/11 attacks. He was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2001.
Reactions to Giuliani's response to 9/11 was polarizing, with polls taken just six weeks after the attack showing a 79 percent approval rating among New York City voters. Others argue that he exaggerated the role he played after the terrorist attacks, casting himself as a hero for political gain.He has also worked for Trump during the latter's presidency, serving as a key member in Trump's legal team. He advised the president on the legality of his “Muslim ban” and as a “cybersecurity adviser”. Most notorious was his leading role in Trump’s attempt to dredge up a scandal about the Biden family in Ukraine – a role that led career diplomats to accuse him during the impeachment hearings of conducting a “shadow foreign policy”.