Bold Moves

Considering that it has been denounced as “blood libel,” quasi-banned from the New York Theatre Workshop and awarded London’s Theatregoers Choice Award for “Best New Play of 2005,” Kansas City audiences might be wondering what to expect from tonight’s local premiere of My Name Is Rachel Corrie. The controversial story concerns an American woman killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza. She had traveled there to protest Israel’s destruction of Palestinian homes during an intifada in 2003. Whatever nerves the show might touch, we know this: It’s as much about a young woman’s sense of herself in the world as it is about any particular conflict. Better still, with local actress Katie Gilchrist in the demanding title role, it has every chance of being memorable theater. She’s directed by Herman Johansen, whose productions have been celebrated in Springfield, Missouri. When asked by The Pitch why he chose this show for his Kansas City directing debut, he said, “It is intriguing that every word in the play is directly from Rachel’s journals and e-mails. And she is a fascinating person. While many of us talk about things we should do, she dove in and did them.” The same might be said for a director who finances and mounts his own show in a new town. The show starts at 8 p.m. on the Jerome Stage at the Unicorn Theatre (3828 Main, 816-531-7529). Tickets cost $21.

Thu., March 19, 8 p.m.; Fri., March 20, 8 p.m.; Sat., March 21, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 22, 3:30 p.m.; Thu., March 26, 8 p.m.; Fri., March 27, 8 p.m.; Sat., March 28, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 29, 3:30 p.m.; Thu., April 2, 8 p.m.; Fri., April 3, 8 p.m.; Sat., April 4, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 5, 3:30 p.m.; Thu., April 9, 8 p.m.; Fri., April 10, 8 p.m.; Sat., April 11, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 12, 3:30 p.m., 2009