The MSU production of “SubUrbia,” scheduled to begin today and continue through next weekend, has been reduced to only one performance.

Put on by the MSU Department of Theatre, “SubUrbia” is a drama about a rock star who returns to his home in small-town America and put his burnout friends’ lives into perspective.

The lone performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Pasant Theatre in the Wharton Center. Admission is free.

The point of controversy comes in the role of Norman and his wife Pakeeza, two characters from the Middle East who run a convenience store. In the play, there is a feeling that some of the characters display anti-American sentiment.

Director Marcus Olson said some students were afraid of being harassed and sympathized with them.

“We came up with the idea to have a panel to talk back to the audience to diffuse any problems that may arise,” Olson said.

A talk back is still scheduled for tonight’s performance.

Wendy Wilkins, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, said the Department of Theatre contacted her for advice, and a meeting was held to discuss the issue.

Wilkins brought members of the university community to the meeting, including Lee June, vice president of Student Affairs and Services, Wharton Center Director Bill Wright, Paulette Granberry Russell, senior advisor to the president for diversity and director of affirmative action compliance and monitoring and Joe Cousins, international student advisor.

Wilkins said the purpose was to help the Department of Theatre in its decision, but Olson saw it as a chance for university officials to give their recommendation.

“The problem I had with this advisory meeting was that these people had not read the play,” Olson said.

Wilkins also said the members of the panel had not read the play, but the panel was also not making any decisions on the outcome of the situation.

“I think that the Theatre Department was wrestling with one of the hardest things to wrestle with in terms of artistic creative events,” she said.

Wilkins said she would support the Department of Theatre in whatever decision it made, but wished the run could have been postponed.

“That would have been my recommendation, but you can’t just do that,” she said.

Wilkins also contacted Provost Lou Anna Simon because of Simon’s interaction with student organizations.

Khalid Bhatti, a theater and computer science sophomore, plays the role of Norman the convenience store owner and said, as a Pakistani American, he did not believe the play displayed any racism or stereotyping.

“The views held by the international student community and the provost are understandable and justified, but the decision was uninformed and cursory,” he said. “I wish that it had been approached from an angle less trying to stifle it and more trying to educate.”

Olson said he is disappointed the show was canceled.

“We’re doing as it would be a regular play, he said. “We think this is in some ways going to be somewhat of an event.”

A majority of the students involved with “SubUrbia” also understood the decision to cancel all but the opening show but did not agree.