>>> MEMORIES OF A FIFTH GRADE FIELD TRIP TO GETTYSBURG ARE AT THE HEART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD PLAY.

IT TOUCHES ON HEAVY THEMES LIKE RACE, POWER, SEX, AND THE AMERICAN PSYCHE.

BUT ITS CREATORS SAY IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU LAUGH.

>> SO I GREW UP IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

AND, IT IS A SMALL TOWN CALLED HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

WE WOULD TAKE FIELD TRIPS TO GETTYSBURG WHERE THERE WERE LOTS OF REINACTMENTS AND GAMES.

ONE WAS CALLED THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME WHICH THEY SET UP AND THEY HAD US SNEAKING THESE DOLLS AROUND.

AND THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS HAD TO CAPTURE THE DOLLS.

AND THE UNION SOLDIERS HAD TO LIKE SNEAK THE DOLLS IN THEIR BACKPACKS AND UNDER THEIR SHIRTS TO THE DIFFERENT SAFE HOUSES.

IN THE CLASSROOMS.

>> IT IS AN ALL WHITE SCHOOL.

AN IMPORTANT THING TO SAY.

>> PRETTY MUCH AN ALL-WHITE SCHOOL.

SO I TOLD THIS STORY TO JEN IN 2012, 2013.

>> I REMEMBER SAYING THAT IS THE CRAZIEST I HAVE EVER HEARD.

THAT IS JUST WILD.

AND SO I WAS FLOORED AND WE CAME UP WITH THESE TEACHER CHARACTERS.

FROM A PLACE OF LIKE, OKAY, CRAVEN PEDAGOGUEY, WHAT MIGHT THESE PEOPLE DO?

HOW MIGHT THEY BE TREATING HISTORY FROM A PLACE OF INABILITY TO ACTUALLY CONTEND WITH IT?

>> IF I'M GOING TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO CANADA FROM HANOVER, I'M GOING TO NEED SOME HELP.

>> YOU HANOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WANT TO HELP TEACHER CAROLINE GET TO FREEDOM?

>> IT'S A TRICKY PLAY TO DESCRIBE.

THE FICTIONS ARE A ROMANCE IN A SCHOOL AND SOME DRAMAS THAT ARE HAPPENING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER.

>> AND I THINK THE RUNNING THEME IS COMPETITION.

THERE'S THE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND THERE'S A COMPETITIVE EDGE BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AS WELL.

THAT'S LIKE PART OF THE LARGER CRITIQUE.

YOU KNOW.

>> NOW UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME IS IN A LIMITED RUN AT NORTH WESTERN'S WARD CENTER FOR