Indiana State University’s Department of Theatre has announced the first production in its season celebrating 100 years of theater at the institution. The play, Sensitive Guys, runs from October 17 through October 20 in Indiana State University’s Dreiser Theater. On opening night, the department will host a talkback panel with members of the cast and additional guests to discuss the themes.

Playwright MJ Kaufmann (they/them) has written a complex story dealing with the intersection of identity and trauma. The play follows Will, Jordan, and Tyler, who are students at Watson. They are all members of the Men’s Peer Education group, a collection of students looking at male privilege and how it is addressed.

When accusatory posters start appearing around campus suggesting that a member of the group committed sexual assault, these ‘sensitive guys’ start to wonder if working on their privilege can turn violent or aggressive. In this play, women and gender non-conforming people play men, trying to understand the intricacies of masculinity and violence. This play is a comedy that discusses rape culture, as well as issues and incidents of sexual assault.

Director Heidi Winters Vogel is an Associate Theater Professor at Wabash College. Winters Vogel previously directed Indiana State University’s production of Pride and Prejudice in the fall of 2023 and has returned for the Indiana State University Department of Theater’s 100th season. She said, “Sensitive Guys digs into the stories of survivors, institutions, and perpetrators. The play exposes the complexity of the problem and the ways individuals can respond, change, grow, and transform our campuses and culture. I chose this show for its exploration of these complex themes.”

Members of the show have spoken about the rewards of telling this story. Sophomore English Literature major Koryn Gooch said, “Sensitive Guys is a show that means so much. It has been such a healing and hard experience telling these stories. I think everyone will leave the theater having learned something, whether about yourself or the world in general. There are very important stories to tell for the men, women, and gender-nonconforming individuals in this show.”

Following the opening night performance on Thursday, October 17, a talkback panel will discuss the play and its themes. Panelists include members of the cast, Dr. Katie Lugar, president of the Pride Center of Terre Haute and Director of Multicultural Services and Programs; Stephannie Gambill, Director of Equal Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator at Indiana State University; Kimbra Pinnell, Assistant Director of Accessibility and Advocacy at Indiana State University, and the director of Sensitive Guys, Heidi Winters Vogel. The one-hour talkback is open to all audience members after the show.

Tickets for Sensitive Guys are $5 for students and $10 for general admission. The production has no intermission and runs for approximately 90 minutes. Performances are held in Dreiser Theater, 221 N 6th St. Tickets can be purchased in-person or online at www.universe.com/isutheater. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to book tickets in advance to guarantee a seat for the show. Further information can be found at indstate.edu/cas/theater.

Content disclosure: This production includes conversations rape culture, as well as issues and incidents of sexual assault.