The Binghamton University theater department gave its debut performance of “Dying City,” a play written by Christopher Shinn, last night in the Fine Arts Building’s Gruber Theater. The play will run again at 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night.

“Dying City” focuses on Kelly, the widow of scholar-turned-soldier Craig, as well as her late husband’s artistic twin brother, Peter, as they deal with the aftermath of Sept. 11. The Pulitzer Prize-nominated play investigates questions both political and intimate in nature, as Kelly and Peter explore their very different ways of handling grief and moving on.

The studio show is directed by Joshua Mizikowski, a second-year graduate student in the theater department. Mizikowski has also directed “American Dream” and “The Lesson” at BU, and he served as an assistant director for last semester’s main stage production, “Julius Caesar.”

Jacobella Luongo, a junior majoring in theater, plays the role of Kelly.

“It is quite the experience to play someone like her because her emotional journey is full of hills and valleys,” Luongo said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring her experience.”

Luongo said she thinks the themes of “Dying City” are easily relatable to a broad audience.

“I think people should come see this show because it addresses issues that are extremely intimate, yet extremely universal,” Luongo said. “The show delivers, in an extremely personal way, the truth about loss and living with it.”

Jonathan Molyneaux, a junior majoring in theater who plays the twins Craig and Peter, said he agreed with Luongo.

“My favorite scene to do is the final scene,” Molyneaux said. “It’s a very emotional scene and I think everyone is going to see something that resonates with them.”

Tickets for the performance cost $3 and will be sold at the door.