Suffolk University Students Create Play Inspired by Boston Marathon Bombing

Two Suffolk University seniors will present their Senior Capstone project on April 17 and April 18 in the Studio Theatre. The production, STRONG: The Boston Marathon Project was conceived, written and directed by Paige Monopoli and Alexa Costa.

The project began as a reaction to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and the journey to finding closure and strength in a time of trauma. Through a series of interviews with victims and first responders, a piece of documentary theatre was produced. Set in a subway car, the characters recall their experiences from the Boston Marathon and reveal hopeful futures.

Monopoli decided to write the play as her capstone project in the Suffolk Honors Program, with theatre classmate, Costa, as the co-creator. Both students had written and directed short plays before, and felt strongly about tackling the topic of the Boston Marathon bombings.

"We want people who were at the Marathon that day to have their voices heard," says Monopoli. "It is important to keep talking about it so that no one forgets how it impacted the whole city and how we all rose up together."

STRONG: The Boston Marathon Project includes a company of student-actors from Suffolk University and also features alumnus Brian Bernhard '14. Erica LeBlanc '14 stage manages the production and has provided connections to many of the interviewees and the Boston OneFund. Steven McIntosh of the Suffolk University Theatre Department and student, Scott McKenney '15 are the Lighting and Sound Designers.

Admission is free. Seating is extremely limited and reservations are encouraged. The Studio Theatre is located on the 4th floor of the Archer Building at Suffolk University, entrance through the Donahue Building at 41 Temple Street. For more information, please contact Erica LeBlanc at e.leblanc99@gmail.com or Nora Magdol at nmagdol@suffolk.edu.

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