For the first time in USI’s history, a student will be directing a main stage production at Mallette Studio Theatre.

“The Pillowman,” which will run Wednesday through Saturday, is about a struggling writer in a fascist police state who is accused of murdering children.

When children begin dying in the same manner portrayed in his books, the police lock him and his brother up.

The unprecedented student play is directed by Theatre Arts Major Scott Cummings and is his directional debut.

Cummings said he has worked as a stage manager and in various other capacities throughout his life, but it was Elliot Wasserman, department chair, who inspired him to direct.

“Elliot Wasserman said when I came back (to school) that he thought I was a director,” Cummings said. “So I took his directing class and talking to him and talking to other people here it became something I was more and more curious about.”

The Pillowman is an exciting play to put on, Cummings said. It is, in essence, a dark comedy.

“The play itself is bold. It’s about freedom of speech. It’s about religious persecution, fascism, police brutality and torture,” Cummings said. “It deals with a lot of relevant issues, but it also has this dark sense of humor.”

Cummings said what he loves most about the play, and why he is so glad it is his directorial debut, is that it rises above cynicism and suggests the potential of humankind.

“It is original. It is intelligent. And it does not give into cynicism,” he said. “It has kind of a fragile hope to it because it really shows the dark side of humankind and then is able to rise above that to really celebrate our greatest potential.”

Zachary Leonard, a Theatre and English Major at USI, plays Detective Ariel, the “bad cop” in the story.

It is Leonard’s first year acting and he is excited to see the audience’s reactions to the play because of the challenges he faced taking on a character that is far different from his personality.

“My character is just angry and yells a lot and cusses a lot and I do not do that,” he said. “Even though he is so different from me, I think that’s why I’m appreciating this part so much. It’s really challenging. I feel like if it wasn’t so challenging, I wouldn’t appreciate it as much.”

Student tickets are $7, $12 for adults and $10 for USI employees and non-students.

For more information, call 812-465-1668.