Visceral, Powerful, Uncomfortable and Modern

Those are a few of the words patrons have used to describe COMMON ENEMY. And by now, you might be thinking “what is this show about? Why is it provoking such immediate responses?” Well, we’re glad you asked.

COMMON ENEMY is a completely original production of a script written by Triad Stage Founding Artistic Director Preston Lane — a native North Carolinian and a die-hard Tarheel fan. Ultimately, the show is about telling truth to power against all odds and the complexity of defining “truth.” The play is extremely contemporary and touches on a wide range of issues too numerous to catalog, but include NSA wire taps, WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden, and Chelsea Manning. By using live video streaming throughout the show to represent the 24-hour news cycle and the constant presence technology has in our lives these days, COMMON ENEMY is as present day as you could possibly be.

The brilliance of the play, though, is that it uses North Carolina College Basketball as the backdrop to start a larger dialogue. Fictional Zebulon College wants to go to the big dance and isn’t afraid of breaking a few NCAA rules to get there. When an ambitious professor discovers a conspiracy of corruption he goes public with the allegations and threatens everything the college has built. Like “Law & Order” used to say, the story is “ripped from the headlines.” It’s not at all about the UNC scandal, but it certainly raises some of the same troubling issues. We all realize that these headlines have become all too common lately — parents, coaches and supporters stepping over the line in an effort to get ahead.

The play also doesn’t seek to provide answers, instead it generates conversations. There are 15 cast members (one of the largest casts in Triad Stage history) and as such, allows us to present many different viewpoints. There isn’t necessarily a “right” answer.

We encourage you to join the conversation!
Come see this modern-day world premiere drama, and share with us your feedback!
We’d love to hear your thoughts.

COMMON ENEMY runs June 7 – 28 at Triad Stage in Downtown Greensboro
336.272.0160 | www.triadstage.org