Sanctuary City @ Theatre in the Round
photo by Aaron Mark Photo Film
Theatre in the Round’s arena stage is very unique to Minnesota. The proximity of the actors and the way stories unfold with the audience quite literally surrounding them creates a kind of vulnerability you don’t find on many other stages. That intimacy was the perfect match for this play Sanctuary City, a play built on vulnerability.
Martyna Majok’s script leaves so much open for interpretation. It doesn’t explicitly tell you the characters’ names (G & B) nor their cultural identities. So in this production G & B play characters with the same identities as the actors portraying them. G played by Ana Paulina is Costa Rican, and B, played by Diego Symouksavanh is Laos and Mexican . This is shown through the set design, with flags and props. Through the script all the audience is given is that it’s post-9/11, and these two high school friends are navigating life as immigrants in America. That openness makes the story oddly both specific and universal, which allows for directors to fill in with their own truths.
If you know me, you already know how much I admire Vanessa Brooke Agnes’ work. My introduction was Godspell at Artistry in 2023, a reimagining so thoughtful and fresh, and one of the first times my sister and I felt truly represented onstage. That experience turned me into a devoted fan, and I was lucky enough to attend a facilitated discussion held by Spotlight MN with Brittany Marie Wilson last spring, focused on being BIPOC in the theater scene. Vanessa’s commitment to uplifting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices isn’t just a mission statement: it’s embedded in how she approaches her work, and Sanctuary City feels like a great match for her directorial style.
Theatre in the Round’s space was a perfect setting for this production. The intimacy of a theater like this brought the vulnerability of these characters’ world to a different level, making everything feel so personal and real. The first act takes place in a park, with swings hanging from the ceiling, a park bench, and hopscotch sketched onto the floor. Then, during intermission, the space was completely transformed into an apartment, immersing us in a newer and fancier setting.
I took great notice of Scott Gilbert’s stage management for this production. The first act of this show seemed pretty tricky to run, the dialogue flows like poetry, and scenes shift abruptly through time without obvious cues or musical transitions. The actors would be in one moment, then snap into a different one without warning. Yet it always felt controlled. The lighting design played a crucial role in signaling these shifts, and the actors handled them with impressive movement. I imagine calling this show must have been very challenging as though there is a script being followed the flow of words like this are slightly different every night.
The contrast between the two acts was really interesting. Act I follows the two friends navigating high school, with as I mentioned poetic, lyrical dialogue that flowed like choreographed conversation. The actors’ physicality and energy made this especially engaging, and they noticed the differences in their body language or diction throughout transitions.
Act II, however, drops us into a single night years into the future with G in B’s apartment. The tone shifts dramatically as Henry, played by LJ Soudaly, enters the picture as B’s boyfriend. The three navigate tense conversations about citizenship, identity, and sacrifice, as B’s character faces a decision that could alter his life and his relationships.
I was very excited to see that the play tackled the topic of green card marriages. It’s something that happens far more often than it’s discussed, and the media tends to hide it from influence. This production handled it with nuance, especially through the lens of a queer relationship before 2015. Watching B and Henry wrestle with hiding their relationship while attempting a marriage of convenience was heartbreaking and moving. It reminded me how easily stories of survival, sacrifice, and chosen family are overlooked, and how powerful they are.
If you have the chance to see it, do. And if not, keep an eye on Vanessa’s work. She’s one of the voices reshaping what theater should be.
https://www.theatreintheround.org/sanctuary-city/
Student tickets are $18-20
Senior tickets: $21-23
Adult tickets: $25-27
+ ticketing fee
Their PWYC performance is tomorrow at 7:30pm with a suggested minimum of $10
Closing June 1st
