The topics of sexism and the depiction of women in society are important elements of Women’s History Month, but when the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center brings Graffiti Theatre’s performance of “Uncolor” to campus, issues of racism will take center stage.

“Uncolor” will be presented at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Maintenance Shop.

Iowa City theater company Graffiti Theatre will address racism in the Midwest through a multimedia performance including live music, theater and a video art component, says Mara McCann, art director for Graffiti Theatre.

“This performance will help the faculty, students and staff at Iowa State discuss racial issues that are often difficult to talk about,” says Shea Rentschler, outreach coordinator for the Sloss Women’s Center and graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies. “The actors focus on ways to end racism in the Midwest, and do so in a fun and informative way.”

The performance of “Uncolor” will include a post-show discussion that will encourage the audience to get involved.

“After the show, we ask for audience feedback about the production and the issues that were addressed,” McCann says. “It’s also a chance for the audience to discuss how the themes presented affect their lives, and how racism influences their communities.”

Graffiti Theatre began in Iowa City five years ago as a group of four women who met once a week to write about different issues, McCann says.

When a friend asked them if they would read some of their essays in a coffeehouse, they agreed. One performance led to another, and eventually a true theater company was born.

While touring in Iowa for “EveryGirl,” another Graffiti Theatre production, the company noticed a growing demand for a performance that dealt with immigration and racial issues.

They created “Uncolor” as a way to talk to white Americans about their role in racism and how they can help bring an end to the problem, McCann says.

“Many communities are unsure of how to deal with the growing number of immigrants who come to work in meat packing plants and other factories,” she says. “We do both performances and training programs for communities, to teach them how to use interactive theater as a vehicle for social change.”

Last year, the group held 52 performances and workshops around the country, including a tour extending to New Orleans.

“We typically do about 80 percent of our performances in Iowa, and only 20 percent out of state,” McCann says. “Last year we went to 31 different cities in Iowa.”

Graffiti Theater has 10 members, including educators, musicians and actors. The performance at the M-Shop will feature two of those members — one musician and one performer.

The performance explore how racism relates to the changing demographics of the Midwest and an increased level of diversity in Iowa, Rentschler says.

“We’re looking at racism as it relates to an increase in immigration to Iowa,” McCann says. “There are many degrees of racism and different shades of bias. We’re trying to make people aware of their own personal biases — ones they may not even be aware they have.”

What: “Uncolor”

Where: Maintenance Shop

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Cost: Free