UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage Virtual will present “The Osaze Project” directed and devised by Professor Emeritus Charles Dumas. The project will premiere Friday, Nov. 13, with a pre-show discussion at 7:30 p.m., presentation at 8 p.m. EDT. The event is free and can be viewed at sites.psu.edu/pscsvirtual beginning on the first date of the performance.
On March 19, 2019, State College Borough police were called by a family member to look in on Osaze Osagie, a 29-year-old African-American man on the autism spectrum who had not been heard from in several days. After receiving a long text message from Osagie in which he threatened to kill himself and potentially others, his father filed for a 302 warrant, which allows authorities to take an individual into medical custody to determine whether they are a potential danger to themselves or others. On March 20, three police officers went to Osagie’s apartment. Less than a minute after they knocked on the door, Osagie was dead. The officers alleged that after opening the door Osagie attacked them with a knife.
Two investigations, one by the district attorney, another by the police department exonerated the three officers, saying they had acted appropriately following departmental procedures. A special Pennsylvania State Police investigator, the only Black person involved in the investigation, concurred. The investigators also determined that race was not a factor in the case. The officers were returned to duty. Following the release of the District Attorney’s report there were public challenges about its conclusions, and several demonstrations have been held.
The Osaze Project is a theatrical workshop that explores the incidents that led up to the Osaze Osagie tragedy, the tragedy itself, and the ongoing community response. The result in an online production involving the talents of the students of the School of Theatre, alumni and actors from the community, according to Dumas.
Dumas was the first African-American full professor in the School of Theatre at Penn State and the first person to direct a play written by an African American for the Penn State mainstage. He has directed, written and performed in over 30 plays in the School of Theatre. He is an Emmy Award-winning actor, and a Pennsylvania Council of the Arts fellowship recipient for playwriting.
Penn State Centre Stage Virtual is offered free to the public and was created to support Penn State students during this difficult time.
Find Penn State Centre Stage Virtual on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.