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One-Act Play Probes Issues of Race and Identity
What if you discovered that you are not the person you thought you were? That is the subject of an autobiographical one-act play titled “Incognito” performed by actor and director Michael Fosberg for the Westminster community Jan. 18 in the Werner Centennial Center.
After 32 years of believing he is white, Michael began a personal search for his biological father at age 34. Armed with only the name of his father and the knowledge that he lived in the Detroit area two decades earlier, Michael makes a miraculous call that sets in motion a series of revelations about his family.
“Incognito” chronicles Michael’s search for his biological father, his discovery that his father is black, his reunion with his father and his father’s parents, and his confrontation with his mother about the true circumstances of his birth. Along the way, he uses humor and emotion to deal with the issues of race, prejudice and life’s difficult choices that are raised in his personal journey.
“All my life, I wore a mask of identity,” said Michel, who was raised in a white middle-class family. “In the blink of an eye, I had a new-found heritage.”
Following the performance, Michael answered questions from students and faculty about the many social issues that are raised in the play, including race and identity. “If my story is a springboard for discussion, that is what I want,” he said. “I am blessed that I get to go across the country and talk about something I am passionate about.”
Hailed by Chicago critics as “one of the top theatrical events of the 2001 season,” “Incognito” has toured theaters, performing arts centers, high schools and colleges across the country.
Michael studied acting, directing and writing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, graduating with a B.F.A. A Chicago native, he has been writing, acting and directing for more than 25 years. This fall, he plans to publish his memoir, “Incognito,” on which the play is based. The film company NUMBER 8 also is currently making a documentary about his life and the play.
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After 32 years of believing he is white, Michael began a personal search for his biological father at age 34. Armed with only the name of his father and the knowledge that he lived in the Detroit area two decades earlier, Michael makes a miraculous call that sets in motion a series of revelations about his family.
“Incognito” chronicles Michael’s search for his biological father, his discovery that his father is black, his reunion with his father and his father’s parents, and his confrontation with his mother about the true circumstances of his birth. Along the way, he uses humor and emotion to deal with the issues of race, prejudice and life’s difficult choices that are raised in his personal journey.
“All my life, I wore a mask of identity,” said Michel, who was raised in a white middle-class family. “In the blink of an eye, I had a new-found heritage.”
Following the performance, Michael answered questions from students and faculty about the many social issues that are raised in the play, including race and identity. “If my story is a springboard for discussion, that is what I want,” he said. “I am blessed that I get to go across the country and talk about something I am passionate about.”
Hailed by Chicago critics as “one of the top theatrical events of the 2001 season,” “Incognito” has toured theaters, performing arts centers, high schools and colleges across the country.
Michael studied acting, directing and writing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, graduating with a B.F.A. A Chicago native, he has been writing, acting and directing for more than 25 years. This fall, he plans to publish his memoir, “Incognito,” on which the play is based. The film company NUMBER 8 also is currently making a documentary about his life and the play.
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