Theater Emory Presents MUD

From the venue:

Theater Emory Presents MUD, a groundbreaking and emotionally charged play by the celebrated Cuban-American playwright María Irene Fornés, from October 3-12, 2024 in the Mary Gray Munroe Theater on the campus of Emory University. MUD is a visceral exploration of poverty, illiteracy, and the human struggle for meaning and connection. The play tells the story of Mae, Lloyd, and Henry–three characters trapped by circumstance in a rural, impoverished setting. Through Mae’s pursuit of education and self-improvement, she begins to unravel the power dynamics between her and the two men. With its stark realism and compellingly raw dialogue, MUD confronts themes of isolation, dependency, and the relentless human will to change one’s fate. Director Mary Lynn Owen describes, “The world of MUD is spare, stripped down. Brutal. The walls of the ramshackle house are bone white and gaping; the house is isolated, sitting atop a mass of red mud. Even the language of the characters is a kind of harsh, simple poetry. Yet Mae, the young woman trapped in this world, is afire with longing. MUD is a relentless look at hope.”

MUD will feature a cast of Emory students and Atlanta professionals, including Kailey Albus (C’25), Ethan Cohen (C’25), and Joshua Williams. The creative team behind MUD includes Emory alumnus Josh Oberlander (C’19), Set Design; Brent Glenn (Director of Undergraduate Studies, Theater Studies), Light & Sound Design; and Jordan Carrier, Costume Design.