A nationally acclaimed touring courtroom drama will explore issues of race, religion, gender, class and law as “The Defamation Experience” comes to Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

The event begins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 21 in the Alford Centrum on the campus of MTSO, 3081 Columbus Pike in Delaware. Advance online registration is required and available at www.mtso.edu/defamation. Registration is $20, or $15 for students.

“The Defamation Experience” is a unique opportunity to engage in civil discourse around pressing social issues. It presents a live court case resulting from a meeting between a professional African-American woman and a successful Jewish man to discuss a potential business project. After the meeting at the man’s house, he realizes that his family heirloom watch is gone. The woman sues the man for defamation.

Following an 80-minute trial, the judge turns to the audience to decide for either the plaintiff or the defendant. He polls the audience twice, before and after he leads a 15-minute deliberation.

“The Defamation Experience” is presented by the Theological Commons at MTSO. The Theological Commons promotes the sharing of knowledge and experience between students, faculty, clergy and the public for the benefit of all participants and those they serve.

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