Jon Rua, from the original cast of Hamilton, is taking part in a reading of scenes from The War Boys, a drama about xenophobia by MacArthur genius grant recipient Naomi Wallace.

Hosted by the Americas Society (AS), the reading takes place 7 PM October 17 at AS headquarters in midtown Manhattan. Registration begins at 6:30 PM.

In The War Boys, according to production notes, “three young Texans spend their nights patrolling the Mexican border to earn a $10 bounty for every Mexican they catch crossing it. Every night they swap boasts and banter. But on this evening, they each enter confessional mode, and they reveal themselves as deeply damaged.”

A fully staged production of The War Boys will have its New York City premiere at the Access Theater March 23-April 9, 2017, under the auspices of The Artist's Crossing.

The reading is being followed by a panel discussion on “how art and artists can change audience perception of immigration and xenophobia” featuring director James McBride in conversation with author Rigoberto González, historian Sal Acosta, playwright Catherine Acosta, and journalist Gustavo Martinez.

AS headquarters is located at 680 Park Avenue at 68th Street in New York.

Wallace’s plays include In the Heart of America, Slaughter City, One Flea Spare, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, and The Fever Chart: Three Vision of the Middle East.

Admission is free for AS members and Hunter College students; $10 for general admission. Click here for further details.