Damascus

by Bennett Fisher

Hassan is a Somali-American airport shuttle driver in Minneapolis, struggling to make ends meet as more and more of his customers switch to Uber and Lyft. So when a stranded teenager at the airport pays Hassan to take him to Chicago, it seems like it’s worth the risk. Until it isn't. A claustrophobic thriller about privilege, paranoia, and the assumptions we make about one another.

Hassan is a Somali-American airport shuttle driver in Minneapolis, struggling to make ends meet as more and more of his customers switch to Uber and Lyft. So when a stranded teenager at the airport pays Hassan to take him to Chicago, it seems like it’s worth the risk. Until it isn't. A claustrophobic thriller about privilege, paranoia, and the assumptions we make about one another.

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Damascus

Recommended by

  • Denis Meadows: Damascus by Bennett Fisher
    “

    A powerful drama, very well composed, the two main characters fully fleshed out and engaging.

    A powerful drama, very well composed, the two main characters fully fleshed out and engaging.

    ”
  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: Damascus by Bennett Fisher
    “

    Wow. This play is excellent. Even just reading it, it affects you. I would love to see it staged one day!

    Wow. This play is excellent. Even just reading it, it affects you. I would love to see it staged one day!

    ”
  • Nick Malakhow: Damascus by Bennett Fisher
    “

    I felt like I was holding my breath for the entirety of the taut 90 minute or so experience of reading this play. Hassan is an excellent central focus in this piece and his urgent circumstances make sense of an extreme request which, of course, turns into something entirely different and more harrowing about 100 miles later. I loved Fisher's complex exploration of an intersection between white privilege, youth, terrorism, and radicalization. An excellent and thought-provoking piece for an intimate venue.

    I felt like I was holding my breath for the entirety of the taut 90 minute or so experience of reading this play. Hassan is an excellent central focus in this piece and his urgent circumstances make sense of an extreme request which, of course, turns into something entirely different and more harrowing about 100 miles later. I loved Fisher's complex exploration of an intersection between white privilege, youth, terrorism, and radicalization. An excellent and thought-provoking piece for an intimate venue.

    ”
View all 11 recommendations

Development History

  • Reading, Florida Rep, 2017
  • Workshop, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Playwrights Foundation, 2017

Production History

  • Professional, Strawdog Theater Company, 2018
  • Workshop, UC San Diego Wagner New Play Festival, 2016

Awards

  • National Playwrights Conference
    Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
    Finalist
    2017
  • Samuel Goldwyn Screenwriting Award
    UCLA
    Winner
    2016