Attendees gathered at Northwestern University’s Cahn Auditorium on a Tuesday evening in anticipation of a play based on testimonies from the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel. The production, titled “OCTOBER 7” and co-written by Ann McElhinney and her husband Phelim McAleer, encountered an unexpected interruption when a fire alarm sounded, causing confusion and alarm among the audience.
Initially, some theatergoers believed the alarm was part of the play, as the performance referenced sirens and alarms in its dialogue. McElhinney mentioned to Fox News Digital that the realistic timing led many to remain seated. “They were like ‘Oh, this is part of the play,’ until they realized it wasn’t,” McElhinney explained.
The alarm resulted in the evacuation of the auditorium. After safety clearance by fire and police departments, reports indicate that numerous attendees left, though some chose to stay, determined not to be intimidated by the disturbance. Despite the setback, those who remained saw the performance conclude with a standing ovation.
McAleer believes the applause served as a tribute not only to the cast and crew but also to the audience’s resilience against attempts to silence them. “The standing ovation was for the actors… But it’s also, I think people were giving themselves a standing ovation,” McAleer told Fox News Digital.
Northwestern Media Relations confirmed the timing of the alarm at 8:12 p.m. and assured that a thorough investigation determined the venue safe, permitting the event to continue. Police are expected to maintain an ongoing investigation.
No protesters appeared outside the theater before the show. The disturbance was seen as a deliberate act by a person who pulled the alarm. McAleer described the action as “insidious,” highlighting the emotional toll and fear it imposed on the audience.
The timing was poignant, as it aligned with October 7 in Israel, marking a year since the original attacks.
The play, “OCTOBER 7,” compiles testimonies gathered firsthand from people affected by the 2023 events in Israel. McElhinney emphasized that the intention behind creating the play was to share stories she felt were overlooked, stating, “We realized that if we didn’t go and tell the story and do this work that nobody else was going to do that.”
Following the attacks, McAleer and McElhinney traveled to Israel, interviewed around 20 people, and incorporated 15 stories into their play. The production has also been performed in various prominent locations, including New York City and the Kennedy Center.
Security concerns have followed their play. During its run in New York City, police provided daily protection. McElhinney noted that this reflected on the state of free speech in the city.
Reflecting on the incident at Northwestern, McAleer commented, “American campuses are deeply strange, dangerous places at the moment for a Jewish person… Free thought is dead on American campuses.”
Plans for filing a police report about the alarm incident are underway, with the hope that the responsible party faces legal consequences.
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