'Smart People' Off-Broadway

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - In Obama's final term, a new play analyzes his race to the White House and how it changed our conversation about race itself.

In "Smart People," Joshua Jackson ("The Affair") plays one of four Harvard professionals attempting to make sense of the 2008 election alongside Tessa Thompson ("Creed"), Anne Son, and Mahershala Ali ("House of Cards"). Thompson portrays a version of herself -- an actress attempting to break free of unwanted labels. Google "Joshua Jackson" and you'll find all of his past roles and his current one as Cole on Showtime's "The Affair."

Under the direction of Tony winner Kenny Leon, "Smart People" fearlessly reopens the wounds that are just as raw today as they were eight years ago.

As complex as the subject matter is, it's okay to laugh sometimes. In fact, playwright Lydia Diamond wants you to.

For Jackson, it is an opportunity to break out of the boxes make light of the way we are all so often misunderstood.