FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- Starting Friday, a group of current and former politicians in northeast Indiana will put together a play from the mind of a Pulitzer-winning playwright that has seen the lights of Broadway. The play, titled The Minutes, is described as a dark comedy about "small-world politics and real-world power" and is set during a city council meeting in November. Tracy Letts, the playwright behind The Minutes, received several nominations for the play and has also won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for his past work. Mitch Harper, a Republican who served as a former state legislator and member of Fort Wayne City Council, will direct, produce and star in the play. The production will be the first for TimeVista Theater, a nonprofit started by Harper and Julie Donnell. Harper said he wanted to do the play to remind people that it is important to "reject false narratives of history," regardless of one's political party. "You can't change the facts, and I think we're in an era -- particularly because of the rise somewhat of social media -- [where] alternative narratives as to what historical events were are being promoted, and this play directly strikes back on that notion," Harper said. Don Schmidt rehearses a scene of The Minutes Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Schmidt served the 2nd District on Fort Wayne City Council from 1971 to 2007. (Photo provided by Nathan Gotsch) That philosophy is reflected in the play's cast, which also features Don Schmidt, a fellow Republican who served on Fort Wayne City Council for more than 35 years, Mark GiaQuinta, a Democrat who served on Fort Wayne City Council for 16 years, and Huntington Mayor Richard Strick, who is an independent. Due to the play's setting and characters, Harper thought casting people with experience in city government would bring a certain cachet to the themes being presented. "No one else in this country has done it with real former councilmembers playing on this fictitious city council who come from across the spectrum," Harper said. "I think that's an endorsement from Don and Mark and Richard about the theme of this play." For GiaQuinta, who served alongside Schmidt on City Council for his entire tenure and worked closely with Harper for decades, preparing for the play provided a unique change of pace compared to his former political interactions. "It was a lot of fun reinitiating a friendship with Don Schmidt, who I have a lot of affection toward and a lot of admiration for," GiaQuinta said. "He and I went at it frequently around the City Council table ... but we always kept it professional and we came away with a lot of good will toward each other." Mark GiaQuinta Talks Working with Other Political Spheres Mark GiaQuinta (left) and Mitch Harper (right) perform a scene during a rehearsal Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Harper, a former state legislator and member of Fort Wayne City Council, is directing, producing and starring in the play. GiaQuinta served on Fort Wayne City Council from 1979 to 1995 and later served as school board president for Fort Wayne Community Schools. (Photo provided by Nathan Gotsch) With election season in full swing, Harper also hopes that having people from various political spheres work together for the play will provide evidence of how Americans can disagree on certain issues while still remaining cordial and respectful toward each other. "Our participation is an example for folks that you can work together," Harper said. "You may have differing opinions, but those opinions shouldn't cause a rift ... if the four of us can serve as that example of how you do that, then maybe we've accomplished something even independent of the play itself." Performances start Friday and run through Oct. 13 at the University of Saint Francis North Campus Auditorium at the following dates and times: Oct. 4 - 7:00 p.m. Oct. 5 - 7:00 p.m. Oct. 6 - 3:00 p.m. Oct. 12 - 7:00 p.m. Oct. 13 - 3:00 p.m. Tickets for each showing are available online.