Simultaneously addressing the heavy issues of drug addiction, family and masculinity, the African-American Theater Ensemble will put up The Street Corner, opening Friday at Northwestern.

An original work written by Communication senior Aaron Mays, the drama focuses on two runaway men, Constantine and Alexander, who are standing on a street corner. While it appears they may simply be waiting for a bus, they are, in reality, waiting for something else.

The men realize they must face up to their responsibilities, flaws and much more. And while the show focuses on drug dependency, Mays says he sought to redefine this problem, an American problem, through the show.

“Dealing with drug dependency, people have one thing in mind,” says Mays.

He says a number of things influenced him to write the play, his first production, which took three or four months to write.

“(I was) trying my hand at a more formal piece of theater,” he says. “Typically I write more experimental, monologue type of plays.”

AATE performs works that are relevant to Black culture and life. The Street Corner aligns nicely with this mission, says Mays.

At the same time, though, the show breaks away from plays the group has performed in the past.

“AATE in the past has put on musicals or musical reviews, more so musical reviews,” he says. “This show … is more a return to stage plays.”

The Street Corner goes up Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. in the Norris University Center’s McCormick Auditorium. It will also run Jan. 19 and 20 at 8 and 11 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

A story in last week’s Play incorrectly stated ticket prices of the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Tickets were $12, not free .

-Christina Amoroso