Sarai's Knife

by John Minigan

SEEKING PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT
When first-year art teacher and biracial collage artist Sarai is asked to investigate the possibly racist vandalism of Black student Jaeda’s photograph, her increasingly complex connection with Jaeda forces her to examine her own history, question her place in the predominantly white exam school in which she teaches, and redefine the nature and purpose of her own art.

SEEKING PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT
When first-year art teacher and biracial collage artist Sarai is asked to investigate the possibly racist vandalism of Black student Jaeda’s photograph, her increasingly complex connection with Jaeda forces her to examine her own history, question her place in the predominantly white exam school in which she teaches, and redefine the nature and purpose of her own art.

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Sarai's Knife

Recommended by

  • Audrey Lang: Sarai's Knife by John Minigan
    “

    This is a thought-provoking play on so many levels, among them race and art. It's a highly visual play that would be so fascinating to see staged. I also found it very compelling to watch Sarai's journey in finding herself -- something that felt surprising and unique, as so often stories follow students discovering identity, not their teachers.

    This is a thought-provoking play on so many levels, among them race and art. It's a highly visual play that would be so fascinating to see staged. I also found it very compelling to watch Sarai's journey in finding herself -- something that felt surprising and unique, as so often stories follow students discovering identity, not their teachers.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: Sarai's Knife by John Minigan
    “

    A revealing look at the toll it takes to live true to one's identity while dealing with the tension of the the world around you. Well done.

    A revealing look at the toll it takes to live true to one's identity while dealing with the tension of the the world around you. Well done.

    ”
  • Nick Malakhow: Sarai's Knife by John Minigan
    “

    I'm uniquely positioned to jive with this play as a teacher of color who has lived/worked in majority white, "elite" spaces, but I imagine anyone would be compelled by the nuanced narrative of Aleyna and Sarai. So much truth is explored here--compromising one's identity vs. rocking the boat, the mental health impacts and emotional labor of being a POC in a white institution. The perfectly rendered (and at times maddening) dynamics in the play paint the whole socio-cultural landscape with just a few characters. Echoes of collage in the theatricality of the piece are quite effective as well.

    I'm uniquely positioned to jive with this play as a teacher of color who has lived/worked in majority white, "elite" spaces, but I imagine anyone would be compelled by the nuanced narrative of Aleyna and Sarai. So much truth is explored here--compromising one's identity vs. rocking the boat, the mental health impacts and emotional labor of being a POC in a white institution. The perfectly rendered (and at times maddening) dynamics in the play paint the whole socio-cultural landscape with just a few characters. Echoes of collage in the theatricality of the piece are quite effective as well.

    ”
View all 4 recommendations

Development History

  • Reading, Writers-at-Play, 2019

Awards

  • Artist Fellowship in Dramatic Writing
    Massachusetts Cultural Council
    Selection
    2020