NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University will present the play “When We Were Young and Unafraid” from November 13 to 16 at the Studio Theater in the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. The production, written by Sarah Treem, centers on women’s experiences and their pursuit of equality.

The play is set in the early 1970s inside a bed and breakfast that also serves as a women’s shelter, before key legal milestones such as Roe v. Wade and the Violence Against Women Act. The story follows characters as they confront personal histories and look toward their futures, offering audiences insight into issues surrounding women’s rights.

Paige Waddingham, a senior majoring in speech and theatre education from Creston, Iowa, directs the production. She chose this play because of its relevance to contemporary issues and noted that it balances serious themes with lighter moments.

“In the digital age, sometimes we can get kind of lost in all of this info that we’re retaining, whether it be the news, our friends or a trend,” Waddingham said. “We can just get lost in what’s actually happening in the world. Seeing a show like this kind of makes you realize, ‘Oh, how does this relate to today? How does this relate to something maybe my mom or grandma had gone through?’ It’s a way to connect with people you hadn’t connected with before.”

Waddingham emphasized that the play portrays women’s experiences in a relatable manner without exaggeration. “This show just shows a lot of the experiences that women go through, and it’s written in a way that’s very relatable,” she said. “It doesn’t exaggerate what they’ve gone through, and it puts the unfortunate things in a more digestible way. It makes you realize how often this happens.”

Reflecting on her role as director, Waddingham said it has helped her develop skills for her future career. “Northwest does a really nice job of making sure that this is an educational theater, and that you should come away with some sort of new knowledge and have an expressive outlet,” she said.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday (November 13-15) and at 2 p.m. on Sunday (November 16). Tickets cost $12 and are available online or at the box office one hour before each show.

For further information about Theatre Northwest, interested individuals may call 660.562.1321 or email.