The Cahn Auditorium at Northwestern University hosted a play on Tuesday featuring testimonies from individuals affected by the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel. The performance, titled “OCTOBER 7,” experienced an unexpected interruption when a fire alarm went off midway, causing confusion among attendees.
Ann McElhinney, co-writer of the play with her husband Phelim McAleer, recounted to Fox News Digital that many audience members initially mistook the alarm as a part of the show. The earlier dialogues included references to sirens and alarms, which contributed to the misunderstanding.
“Initially, they thought it was part of the play,” McElhinney said. “Until they realized it wasn’t.”
The auditorium had to be evacuated as authorities ensured safety. Although some attendees left after the evacuation, others chose to stay. McAleer mentioned that the performance concluded with a standing ovation, both as an appreciation to the cast and a defiance against the attempted disruption.
Northwestern Media Relations provided a statement mentioning the evacuation time and confirmed the safety of the building, allowing the event to resume and conclude as planned. The university police continue to investigate the incident.
Despite the interruption, McAleer and McElhinney reported no protests outside the venue. Inside, they suspect that someone deliberately triggered the alarm during an emotional moment in the play, aiming to disrupt the event.
“This was someone, we believe, who decided they didn’t want their voice heard,” McAleer said.
The couple collected the stories at the heart of “OCTOBER 7” by visiting Israel soon after the attacks, knowing that the narrative needed to be told. They encountered a makeshift memorial for a victim at their hotel, which reinforced their commitment to share these stories. They interviewed around 20 people, featuring 15 testimonies in the play.
The play has been performed in various locations, including New York City and other university campuses. During its New York City run, it necessitated daily NYPD presence, highlighting security concerns surrounding the production.
McAleer expressed concern over the state of free speech on American campuses, pointing out that Jewish students may feel unsafe expressing their grief or marking significant anniversaries.
“Free thought is dead on American campuses,” he stated, underlining the need for secure events.
The couple plans to file a police report regarding the incident at Northwestern and hopes for comprehensive legal action against those responsible.