A journalist and filmmaker known for exploring tough issues through film, stage plays, books, and podcasts is on a mission to expose the true horrors of Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack. Phelim McAleer's new play "October 7" is set to open May 13 in New York City. It's a show motivated by his quest to tell the real story behind the deadly attacks, the related hostage crisis, and Israel's military response.
"We realized very quickly that journalists in the mainstream media — they want[ed] to talk about October 8th. They wanted to talk about October 9th," McAleer said. "Nobody wanted to talk about October 7th. There was a story that wasn't being told, and that's what we specialize in: telling untold stories." The conservative journalist and filmmaker said people fail to understand that there would be no Israeli response and no war in Gaza had Hamas not unleashed terror on Israel.
"We want to tell the truth," McAleer said. "We wanted to bring the truth to people." McAleer said he and his wife, Ann McElhinney, were so shocked by the Oct. 7 terror attack they went to Israel last November just weeks after it unfolded to personally collect stories from survivors and those impacted. McAleer said he and McElhinney knew they wanted to translate these stories — relying word-for-word on the personal accounts — into a stage play. He said there's no other venue he believes would have been appropriate to bring these stories to the forefront than the stage. McAleer said the play doesn't include editorializing and has "no added characters, no added drama" — just the raw and true words of those with whom they spoke.
"[We want to] remind people that there was a day called October 7th, and [without it] there would be no war in Gaza ... there'd be no need for a ceasefire," he said. "There was a ceasefire on October 6th." "October 7" opens May 13 at Actors Temple Theatre in New York City, with showings extending through June 16. So far, McAleer said the reception has been deeply emotional and positive.
Not everyone is elated over the show, though, as McAleer said he and his team are "getting a lot of blowback online," forcing the show to beef up security. In fact, audiences must enter through metal detectors similar to airport security. "I think we're the only play in New York that has opened under police protection," he said. "I think we may be the only play in decades that has opened in New York under police protection." He continued, "It's amazing that [this] kind of play needs police protection in New York in 2024." Listen to McAleer explain more here.