The Thing About the Dream (Vertigo Productions)

Written by Northwestern junior and international student Mantra Radhakrishnan, The Thing About the Dream follows Rekha, a queer, Indian comedian as she navigates the tumultuous political landscape of Bangalore after a bombing occurs at one of her stand up shows. Seeking new opportunities, she travels to the United States to work as a sitcom writer but quickly becomes disillusioned with the blatant tokenism and isolating marginalization that informs her professional life as an immigrant in this country. The play follows two plot lines, the progression of Rehka’s life in Bangalore as she searches for the criminal responsible for the terrorist action, and her experiences in the present as a sitcom writer in the 2022 American landscape of slacktivism and corporate control of marginalized identity. We are so excited to be bringing this new perspective to Shanley Pavilion on April 14th and 15th! 

Vertigo Productions is the only student theatre organization on campus dedicated to producing exclusively student-written work. With a season that includes two fully-produced MainStage plays, a reading series of three staged readings, and a ten-minute play festival, Vertigo seeks to encourage artistic risk-taking, engage with the exploration of diverse voices and experiences, and welcome all into the process of new work development. Through this mission and the partnership with the undergraduate playwriting department, Vertigo serves as the premier resource for student playwrights and new work lovers on campus seeking to exercise their creative muscles. 

Help us bring The Thing About the Dream to life with a gift today!