Performance Interrupted by Fire Alarm at Northwestern University

Theatergoers attended a performance at Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University, featuring a play titled OCTOBER 7, which tells stories of those affected by the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel. The event was disrupted when a fire alarm went off, causing confusion among attendees.

Ann McElhinney, the co-writer of the play along with her husband Phelim McAleer, shared that initially, many believed the alarm was part of the performance. The sirens in the play’s dialogue added to this confusion. Eventually, it became clear that the alarm was not scripted.

“They thought it was part of the play,” McElhinney said. “Then, they realized it wasn’t.”

Upon activation of the alarm, the auditorium was evacuated. Some attendees left out of concern, while others stayed, determined not to be intimidated. The performance concluded with a standing ovation, which McAleer viewed as support for both the production team and audience members who chose to stay.

Northwestern Media Relations confirmed that the alarm sounded around 8:12 p.m. The building was cleared and deemed safe by police, allowing the event to continue until 9:45 p.m.

McAleer described the alarm incident as “insidious,” suggesting it was a deliberate disruption. The couple had faced no protest outside but were concerned by the deliberate nature of the alarm trigger during a sensitive part of the play.

The couple gathered testimonies from around 20 individuals impacted by the attacks, aiming to focus on the events of October 7. Their findings suggested a lack of journalistic focus on these events, prompting the couple to create the play.

The play OCTOBER 7 has been showcased at various venues, including New York City and UCLA. In New York, the play required daily police presence, highlighting security concerns even in cities with significant Jewish populations.

McAleer commented on the current state of American college campuses, describing them as hostile environments for Jewish individuals. He emphasized concerns over safety and freedom of expression.

Following the alarm incident, the couple plans to file a police report, hoping to see legal actions taken against those responsible.