Fire Alarm Disrupts Northwestern Play on October 7 Attack
A play at Northwestern University about the October 7 attacks was interrupted when someone pulled a fire alarm. A quote said the disruption reinforced for the audience how evil people can be.
The production, based on direct accounts from Israelis who lived through the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, was written by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer and staged at Northwestern’s Cahn Auditorium. It is also scheduled at Cornell and other campuses.
A fire alarm sounded around 8:12 p.m. Tuesday, forcing an evacuation. After fire and police checks found the building safe, attendees were readmitted and the performance finished at 9:45 p.m. Campus police are still investigating. Abby Polin, aunt of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and his grandmother were present.
This incident may deepen concerns among Jewish students and audience members about safety and free expression on campuses. It could also intensify scrutiny of how universities handle disruptions of controversial events. Because the play concerns October 7, reactions may further polarize campus communities, while investigations and institutional responses could shape trust in administrators’ ability to protect both speech and safety.