ShPIel Performing Identity brings #CHARLOTTESVILLE to Actors Theatre

Fresh from a sold out run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, ShPIel Theatre in partnership with Actors Theater of Louisville presents #CHARLOTTESVILLE. Written and performed by Priyanka Shetty with direction by Yury Urnov, the piece won for “Outstanding New Writing” while in Edinburgh. This performance will have a very limited run on Sunday September 14^th with post show discussions as well.

Priyanka Shetty’s one person show explores the events and reactions surrounding the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville Virginia. #CHARLOTTESVILLE “utilizes first-hand accounts, court transcripts, news reports, and her unique voice as an Indian immigrant,” according to their press release. An established playwright and alum of the Kennedy Center Playwrights Intensive, Shetty earned a Masters of Fine Arts from University of Virginia and served on the faculty as well.

ShPIel Performing Identity Theatre’s mission focuses on Jewish storytelling approach of identity, heritage and culture. ShPIel is run by David Chack and operates throughout Chicago, Los Angeles as well as Louisville. Recent productions include Green Book, Indecent, Chagall in School and Room 1214 which held a run at Kentucky Performing Arts MeX theatre in February 2025.

With post show panel discussions with leaders from the community, #CHARLOTTESVILLE examines the bitter disputes over Confederate statue removal, anti-Semitism and the rise of global nationalism. For the 2 pm show, Sadiqa Reynolds, Jewish historian Dr. Carol Ely, Trent Spoolstra from the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation will sit as a panel. Rabbi Ben Freed rabbi at Keneseth Israel in Louisville, Dr. Roy Fuller, a religious studies scholar and contributor to "Arts and Soul" at the Speed and Saravanan Murugan providing important perspectives coming from Indian heritage will provide panel after the 7 pm production.

#CHARLOTTESVILLE will be produced by Richard Jordan Productions and Yellow Raincoat Associate and The Pleasance. Show times are Sunday September 14, 2025 at 2pm and 7pm. The production will be staged at Actors Theater of Louisville’s Victory Jory Theatre.

Visit Actors Theater's website for additional information: https://www.actorstheatre.org/events/hashtag-charlottesville