The theatre and film department is putting on the production “The Blue Orange,” which addresses sanity, power, hierarchy and even racism.

The controversial play is taking place during the department’s “elsewhere season.”

Jonathan Chambers, director of the production, said that “elsewhere season” is a chance for the actors to grow. Elsewhere season” happens between the main stage season, which is during the entire academic year.

“We get the chance to build a connection with the audience and become better at the craft of acting,” Chambers said.

The play contains a controversial topic in racism. The cast of the play is very small, having only three members. Chambers said that it’s important to have strong skilled actors for this particular production.

Set in contemporary times, the play is based in England, and contains tough language and requires an accent. Set in a psychiatric hospital, one patient claims to be the son of an African dictator and the plot escalates from there.

Brett Mutter, an actor in the production, said the play was complex but required him to step out of his comfort zone.

“I enjoy doing musicals, but I had never done an accent before,” he said. “I enjoyed doing something different and working on new things.”

Some plays do contain controversy, such as this topic of racism and power. The actors feel that the correct representation is important.

Graduate student Quincy Thomas is also one of the actors in the production. He said that he enjoys being apart of things that speak for something, but it has to be done in the right way.

“I don’t mind being in this production,” he says “I just did not want to be caricaturized and I think Jonathan understood that.”

The production will leave the audience with something to think about once it ends.

It debuts Friday Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. with a second show on Saturday. The “Blue Orange” will be hosted in the Eva Marie Saint Theatre in the Wolfe Center. Admission to the play is free, but seating will be limited.