On August 27, local filmmaker and playwright Alicia Inshiradu will launch BOGO, a “Buy One-Give One” ticket campaign at Morning Glory Coffeehouse, 1415 Dawson St, 6p-8p, for her new stage play, What the River Knows.

A fictional drama inspired by the story of Wilmington’s 1898 massacre and coup d’état, the play will premiere on the massacre’s 124th anniversary, November 10, for a four-day run on Thalian Hall’s main stage. A town hall will follow the Sunday matinee on November 13. Tickets for the play, available only on Thalian Hall’s website or box office, will go on sale August 8.

The goal of the BOGO campaign, which will distribute 200 free tickets, is to make live theater accessible to those who are typically unable to attend productions due to the price of admission. Another goal of the campaign is to bring Wilmington’s 1898 history to an audience who was directly impacted by it.

The Bogo campaign works like this: On August 27, and continuing until the play’s opening night, potential donors will have access to several ways in which they can donate. If you would like to donate before Aug 27, please contact Inshiradu at playingodfilms@gmail.com. Inshiradu and her team are working closely with several community groups, churches and schools to match theater tickets with appropriate recipients. BOGO campaign donors will be acknowledged in a special section of the playbill.

Admission for the BOGO launch is free and will feature a screening and commentary of the short film teaser from which the play was adapted, live music and spoken word poetry by Tyrone Hill and the SolTree Reign Band. Light refreshments will be available.