The School of Theater and Dance brings another year of the play “Somewhere.”

Fabio Polanco, in his ninth year as an associate professor for theater and dance at Kent State, is directing the play starting April 21-30.

The play was first written by Marisela Treviño Orta and first appeared during the 2019-20 season.

“As an institution that explored and supported her work, she continues to grow in prominence as a voice in theater,” Polanco said.

“She has other plays that she has written and that have been done other than this one that are outstanding. She is a rockstar and I’m excited that we will be a part of her story.”

The play is about a brother and sister who track the world’s last remaining monarch butterflies because of the world reaching its tipping point in terms of climatic changes. The characters must decide between adapting to climate change, or holding on to the past to reverse it.

Polanco believes the message behind the play is relevant to the target audience and viewers will be able to relate to it.

Polanco adds that the play “Somewhere” was important for students to perform because it gives them an opportunity for acting and design.

Having a diversity of voices is what the theater and dance program strive for when picking out plays. Polanco says that when “Somewhere” was picked, the committee wanted to make sure that there was a diversity of voices, and this play amplifies Latina voices.

“I think it was written for people in their 20s, they’re going to be the ones who are going to have to contend with the decisions that have been made and how it’s going to affect this planet,” Polanco said. “I think it’s really relevant to younger people.”

Kyle Kuchta is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].