Whittier: A Play in Portraits by TyLie Shider

In early December of 2024, TyLie Shider's "Whittier: A Play in Portraits" was performed in the UMN's Rarig Center.

Whittier is a contemporary docudrama following a diverse community of neighbors quarantined in Whittier, MN days after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. The play is inspired by the graffiti, lawn signs, and murals created in protest of Floyd’s murder. It is adapted from focus groups, interviews, and talks Shider conducted with neighbors, small business owners, and community leaders of faith during the 2020 uprisings in his neighborhood.

Watch the full video to learn more and gain insight into this powerful play.