Brookhaven residents will get a chance to watch four original short plays, share a meal with strangers, and talk about what it means to be American — all under one roof on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church.

The City of Brookhaven is partnering with Atlanta-based Out of Hand Theater to bring its "We Hold These Truths" program to 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road as part of events marking the nation's 250th anniversary. The evening pairs live theater with the company's "Equitable Dinners" format: tables of about 10 people share food, watch a short play, then join guided dialogue led by trained facilitators.

"Culturally, Brookhaven is a very diverse community, and that diversity makes us a stronger, more vibrant city," Mayor John Park said in a statement announcing the event. "This programming exemplifies the spirit of Brookhaven, in which we are truly 'Better Together.'"

Four plays, four perspectives

Each play was written by a different playwright and shaped by community listening sessions:

  • "American Dream" by Jeilianne Vazquez — a first-generation Latino teen on the brink of adulthood chooses between pursuing his dreams and staying to protect his immigrant family.
  • "Ancestral Reckoning" by Marcie Rendon — ancestors carry hope forward while examining progress through a Native American perspective.
  • "Faded Dream" by Melissa Simmons — a newly unemployed man waiting in a food pantry line wrestles with what the American Dream still promises 250 years after the nation's founding.
  • "Tell Them About the Dream" by Dana Stringer — a Black, Southern pastor abandons his Sunday sermon to reflect on faith, freedom, and the power of imagination in the African American experience.

Who's behind it

Out of Hand Theater, founded in 2001 by Ariel Fristoe, won The New York Times Best Theater honor in 2020, the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities in 2021, and the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge in 2023. More than 15,000 people have participated in the company's Equitable Dinners programs nationwide, according to the organization's website.

Fristoe, the company's founder, and co-executive director Adria Kitchens are leading the Brookhaven event. Kitchens said in a statement that the format invites "honest and critical conversations about what it means to be American" by combining performance, shared meals, and guided dialogue in one setting.

Brookhaven joins a roster of partners that includes Fulton County, the City of Decatur, the City of Suwanee, The Carter Center, the King Center, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

How to attend

Registration and event details are available at outofhandtheater.com. A specific start time and ticket price have not been published.

Upcoming community events

  • Saturday, August 15, 2026 — "We Hold These Truths" plays and Equitable Dinners, St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Brookhaven. Register at outofhandtheater.com.