Playwright Donnetta Lavinia Grays joins audiences for a rare Prologue conversation before the February 8 performance 

Colorado Springs, CO — January 13, 2026 — Theatreworks at the Ent Center for the Arts presents Where We Stand, a lyrical and imaginative work by acclaimed playwright and actor Donnetta Lavinia Grays, running January 29–February 15, 2026. Blending the intimacy of a fireside story with the sweep of myth and fable, the play invites audiences into a richly imagined world that explores responsibility, belonging, and how communities care for one another. 

On Sunday, February 8, audiences are invited to a rare experience: Grays will be in residence at Theatreworks for Prologue, an in-depth pre-show conversation exploring the ideas behind Where We Stand. Prologue is a long-running UCCS Theatre & Dance tradition produced by Professor Kevin Landis that brings artists and audiences together for thoughtful dialogue. The event is free and open to the public, with no Theatreworks performance ticket required. Seating is limited and early registration is encouraged. The conversation will be followed by the 4 p.m. Theatreworks performance of Where We Stand, offering a singular opportunity to experience the play alongside its creator. 

Directed by Marisa D Hébert and featuring a tour-de-force performance by Alex Campbell, Where We Stand resists easy labels. Though performed by a single actor, Hébert emphasizes that the piece is anything but a “one-person show.” 

“Alex embodies an entire community,” Hébert said. “This play takes me back to the very beginning of storytelling—like sitting around a campfire, grounded in nature, sharing something essential. It feels like you’ve happened upon someone who invites you to sit, listen, and be held by a story. In this moment in human history, that kind of storytelling feels deeply necessary.” 

Often described as a modern fable, the play weaves together elements of magic, myth and moral inquiry. Early in the story, a pivotal encounter unfolds between someone who has been overlooked and someone who claims to truly see them—raising questions about power, validation, and the cost of grace. 

“We all want to be seen,” Hébert said. “And sometimes being seen—even through a distorted lens—can change everything. That’s where the emotional heart of the story lives.” 

The final moments of Where We Stand emphasize reflection, inviting audiences to sit with the story and its questions as the play’s themes of shared responsibility and community come into focus. 

“Where We Stand asks us to look at ourselves, our communities and the ways we hold one another accountable—with empathy and care,” said Theatreworks Artistic Director Max Shulman. 

Grays, whose writing won the Whiting Award for Drama and was praised for its musicality and wordplay, originally performed Where We Stand herself. The play has received nominations from the Lucille Lortel Awards, Drama League, AUDELCO and Broadway Black, and has been celebrated for its poetic exploration of forgiveness without simplifying or moralizing its outcome. 

“This play lives in questions rather than answers,” Grays said. “It’s about how we live together, how we harm and repair, and how we reckon with ourselves inside a community. I’m thrilled to share this story with Theatreworks audiences—and to be there in the room, listening alongside them.” 

Hébert hopes audiences leave with one enduring thought. 

“That we are all worthy of forgiveness,” she said. 

Event Details 
Where: Theatreworks at the Ent Center for the Arts, UCCS 
What: Where We Stand by Donetta Lavinia Grays, directed by Marisa D Hébert 
Prologue with Donetta Lavinia Grays: Sunday, February 8 at 2:00 PM (free registration, no performance ticket purchase required.) 
Performances: Thursday, January 29 – Sunday, February 15, 2026; times vary 
Tickets & Info: entarts.org/wherewestand

Press inquiries may be directed to: 
Elyce Gronseth 
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications, Ent Center for the Arts 
719-255-8365 
egronset@uccs.edu 

About Theatreworks Colorado Springs 
Theatreworks Colorado Springs, based at the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS, is a professional theatre company committed to producing works that engage, challenge, and inspire audiences. With a robust season of diverse performances, Theatreworks connects the Colorado Springs community through the transformative power of live theatre. 

About the Ent Center for the Arts 
The Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS is a multi-venue arts complex that serves as a cultural hub for Colorado Springs. Home to Theatreworks, the Galleries of Contemporary Art (GOCA), and other artistic programs, the Ent Center fosters creativity and collaboration across disciplines, providing a space for artists and audiences to connect in meaningful ways.