Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities

August 1991: simmering tensions in the racially polarized neighborhood of Crown Heights erupt into riots after a Black child was killed by a car in the Chabad-Lubavitcher Rebbe’s motorcade and a white Jewish scholar was slain in retaliation. Anna Deavere Smith’s groundbreaking documentary play uses verbatim testimony from individuals throughout the diverse community, creating a nuanced portrait of a shared but divided geography. This theatrical event – performed over 30 years after these life-changing riots – promises a tour-de-force solo performance and a story which touches upon every American regardless of race, color, or beliefs.