A 30 minute reading of a scene from “Cracked,” a play written by Nikkita Duke. Performed by Nikkita Duke and friends. “Cracked” is a full-length dramedy play which follows prodigal son, Edem, who returns home with his wife, Ekanem, after many years for his mother’s funeral. Things eventually begin to crack as Edem is forced to confront all the buried secrets and memories of his childhood that haunt his present, including the trauma of his female abuser. For admission to the library, present a photo ID at the front desk.

About the Author: Nikkita Duke is a writer of diverse genres currently pursuing her MFA in Screen/Stage Writing from Northwestern University. Her poetry has earned her a commendation from the Poetry Society UK (Black Snow, 2009). Her short story “Edidiong” was shortlisted for the DWL Short Story Competition (2015) and her first stage play Affiong’s First Novel won second place in a Nigerian Playwriting Competition in 2016. In Chicago, she has had a reading at the Chicago Dramatists for her short play Before The War. This past summer, she was part of the Maria Fornés Workshop and also interned at the Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble.