Kent State playwright’s ‘Trial By Fire’ inspired by real-world book bans

In front of three sold-out crowds, Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance brought the fiery topic of book bans and its effects on students and schools to campus Feb. 7-9 in “Trial by Fire,” a play written by the university’s own Eric Mansfield. Mansfield is assistant vice president for Kent State’s University Communications and Marketing.

With a cast of nine students under the guidance of Director Courtney Brown, along with the help of more than a dozen crew members, Mansfield’s play details the fictional predicament of Ohio teacher Georgia Grimm, a Kent State graduate under fire for assigning her high school students books recently banned by the governor.