July 17-19, 2026

By Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by Jonathan Berry

In the basement of a small evangelical church in southeastern Idaho, a group of young missionaries is preparing to go to the Middle East. One of them – a young man who has recently lost his father – has bought a one-way ticket. But his plans are complicated when his estranged sister returns home and makes it her mission to keep him there.

Approximate run time: 105 minutes, no intermission
Suggested ages: 14+

A Note on Sensitive Content is available for this production. 

At The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Centers, we recognize that sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have questions about the content, age-appropriateness, or stage effects of a show, e-mail our box office at wirtz@northwestern.edu or call 847-491-7282.

About Our Guest Director

Jonathan Berry is the Artistic Director of Raven Theater and a Chicago-based director, teacher, and producer.  Prior to Raven, he served as Artistic Director of The Penobscot Theatre Company in Bangor, Maine. He is a proud ensemble member of both Steep Theatre and Griffin Theatre and a former Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.     Directing credits include: Steppenwolf: Lindiwe, The Children, You Got Older, Constellations, and the SYA productions of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, The Crucible, and A Separate Peace.  Steep Theatre Company: Paris, Red Rex, Earthquakes in London, Posh, The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle, If There Is I Haven’t Found it Yet, The Knowledge, Festen, Moment, The Hollow Lands and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.  Griffin Theatre: The North American premiers of Simon Stephens Punk Rock (Jeff award Director, Lead Actor, and Ensemble) Port, and On the Shore of the Wide World, as well as The Harvest, Winterset, Pocatello, Balm in Gilead, Golden Boy, The Burnt Part Boys, Spring Awakening Company, Picnic, Time and the Conways, Dead End, The Hostage and Journey’s End.  

He has directed productions for American Theatre Company, Redtwist, Chicago Dramatists, Jackalope Theatre, Strawdog, Remy Bumpo, Theatre Mir, and Lifeline Theater.  He was the Assistant Director for Anna D Shapiro’s Broadway productions of Of Mice and Men and This is our Youth.   He pursued his MFA in directing from Northwestern University and had a BFA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  He has taught acting, directing, and viewpoints at University of Michigan, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Columbia College, Acting Studio Chicago, Bramble, Vagabond, Black Box and served as the director for the ensemble training program The School at Steppenwolf.