A quiet library that straddles the border of the U.S. and Canada becomes an unlikely crucible for five people from around the world. When an Iranian family, separated from one another by the travel ban, uses the library as a meeting place, the head librarian, a U.S. border patrol officer and a local teenager must choose between breaking the law and saving themselves.

A TIMELY STORY—NEEDED MORE NOW THAN EVER—ABOUT FINDING EACH OTHER ACROSS BORDERS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL. 

Inspired by true events, this poignant and funny new play, written and directed by the gifted artist Kareem Fahmy, was a finalist for the National New Play Network’s 2020 National Showcase for New Plays. Now making its Chicago debut, A Distinct Society delivers a moving story about the many things—family, food, art, love, and politics—that can either divide or unite us.