The dystopian political thriller Building the Wall plays from Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 21 at Urban Stages. Written in 2016 by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, the play feels startlingly real in 2026 amidst nationwide immigration raids and deportation crackdowns.
The production is presented by Ripple Effect Artists and directed by Brent Buell, a theater artist known for his extensive work in prison arts advocacy, including his tenure with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). The Production is also partnering with The Immigration Defense Project and New York Immigration Coalition to host post-show talkbacks and raise awareness and funding for legal resources supporting immigrant communities.
The play centers on a conversation between Rick (Austin Lightning Carrothers), a former private prison warden, and Gloria (Cecily Lyn Benjamin), a history professor, unfolding as Rick faces sentencing for atrocities committed in detention centers following a major terrorist attack that resulted in the imposition of martial law. Building the Wall is a cautionary exploration of how escalating anti-immigration policies, fear, and the erosion of democratic norms can lead to extreme human rights consequences.
For performance schedule, more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Urban Stages is located at 259 West 30th St., NYC
