Slaughter City is a darkly comedic drama infused with muscular poetics that tells the story of a group of workers in a meat packing plant. As their working conditions deteriorate, a stranger named Cod floats through their world, encouraging them to take action. But will the revelation of his dark secrets undermine his efforts? This powerful, humorous, and timely play by University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop graduate Naomi Wallace explores the issues of human rights and corruption. Resistance confronts greed, as characters move forwards, backwards, and sometimes sideways through time in the dark, beautiful, and unsettling world of Slaughter City.

Slaughter City is intended for mature audiences and contains adult themes, explicit sexual content, partial nudity, and strong language. Produced through special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc.

This production is being presented as part of the Series on Arts and Rights (SOAR), a joint initiative of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights and the Division of Performing Arts.

Slaughter City Panel Discussion
On Sunday, April 13, a panel of experts joined the audience in a discussion of the themes and ideas presented in the show. This in-depth discussion of the real world situations, theatrical styles, and historical events influencing the writing of the play will expand our understanding of the world of Slaughter City. Panel guests discussed issues of race, gender, sexuality, and labor history and will invite the audience to ask questions.

Panelists:
Beth Cleary, Associate Professor of Theatre at Macalaster College
Peter Rachleff, Professor of History at Macalaster College
Jennifer Sherer, Director of the University of Iowa Labor Center
Isaac West, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at The University of Iowa

Link to an article in the Daily Iowan.

Slaughter City Artistic Team

Slaughter City Cast

*denotes undergraduate student
**Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States