As part of events to mark the 20th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, ‘Unexplored Interior’ – a new play by actor and writer Jay O. Sanders, in the making since he first visited Rwanda during the 10th commemoration in 2004 – will receive a live concert reading midday EST today at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York. 

At the same time, thanks to a partnership with Google+ and the Aegis Trust, the reading can be seen live at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and online around the World right here.

The performance will be in two parts – first part an hour and 20 minutes, second part 40 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. It will be followed by a live online discussion for about half an hour between the venues in Kigali and New York, in which viewers online will be able to participate via the Google Hangout Q&A app.

Says producer Daniel Neiden, “Unexplored Interior is a work of passion and necessity. Jay O. Sanders has developed and honed it through a series of workshops and readings at the Cherry Lane, the Public, the Lark, and the Flea Theater, and it is an enormous honour for so many who have come together, to present it internationally, during the 100-day observance of the genocide.”

Directed by James Glossman, the concert reading is presented by the Genocide Survivors Support Network, the Brotherhood Synagogue, Eugenie Mukeshimana, Daniel Neiden, Emmanuel Ruranga MS.LPC, Paula Gil, Erika Feldman, Luna Kaufman, the Flea Theater and The Public Theater.

The hosts from Kigali for the live discussion following the performance will be Hope Azeda and Freddy Mutanguha, Director of the Aegis Trust in Rwanda.

“May this gathering be a reminder of our desire and ability to communicate and see each other as human beings.” says Jay Sanders. “We are fighting against silence, ignorance, separation and the fear and hatred they can breed. We are reaching from deep in the best part of ourselves to combat the darkness that we know lies also in us, that we can all fall prey to.”