Synopsis

A suburban neighborhood in Chicago, shifting between 1959 and 2009

Act One, set in 1959, follows Russ and Bev as they prepare to sell their home to the neighborhood’s first black family, sparking conflict with neighbors like Karl. Act Two jumps to 2009, where Steve and Lindsey, a white couple, face opposition from Lena and Kevin as they plan to raze and rebuild in the now predominantly African-American neighborhood.

Norris’s razor-sharp dialogue and deft handling of uncomfortable social dynamics create a bitingly funny yet deeply unsettling examination of prejudice, privilege, and the cyclical nature of discrimination. As the characters grapple with changing demographics and unspoken biases, Clybourne Park offers a provocative look at how far we’ve come in fifty years—and how far we haven’t.