Four local actors work together to perform 20 different parts

formances and art exhibits, but it was the sudden demand the past couple of years for rental as a space for community forums that inspired Thibodeaux to create “Dialogues on Grace.”

Thibodeaux recalled that amajor catalyst for the community forums was the violence in Ferguson, Missouri, after a black teenager was shot and killed by a white police officer on Aug. 9, 2014.

“Eventually a black group from Dallas, but also groups locally, began rent- ing the facility for meetings on how to heal within their community,” said Thibodeaux.

“They had dialogues on ‘being a black woman in America,’ ‘being a black man in America,’ ‘being a gay black man within the black community.’ ”

Wanted to do her own

Thibodeaux decided, “I wanted to do my own dialogues.”

She applied and was accepted into a workshop at Tectonic Theater Project in New York City, which is perhaps best known for developing the 2000 play “The Laramie Project,” based on interviews in Wyoming following the 1998 torture and murder of a young gay man, Matthew Shepard.

The public outcry from the incident led to passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law in 2009.

“Tectonic taught me to listen to see if there are echoes, things that are repeated” in the interviews, said Thibodeaux.

“Tectonic also emphasized the power of collaboration.”

The root of an idea

Returning to Houston, Thibodeaux enlisted Montrose director Jacey Little, whose specialty is new play development.

“I come from a dance background,” said Thibodeaux, “so my art comes from not talking.”

In contrast, Little is adept with words and howto structure a play.

“What appeals to me most is making every effort to understand the root of an idea,” said Little.

“I ask questions rather than draw conclusions or make judgments. I help the writer peel back layers and morph her ideas into something theatrically interesting and also wellbalanced.”

Little agreed to direct this month’s production, which will employ four actors in 20 different parts.

A better connection

The cast includes Arianna Bermudez, Candice Laine D’Meza, Atseko Factor and Herman Gambhir, who impressed Thibodeaux when she saw him portray a young Indian-American wrestler in “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity” when it was produced last year by Stages Repertory Theater and Horse Head Theatre Company.

Thibodeaux said she created “Dialogues on Grace” for live theater rather than isolated viewing as a documentary film because “it is imperative” that it be a shared communal experience, complete with audience dialogues after each performance.

“My goal is discourse and a better connection with humanity,” she said.