Diplomacy through Stage: The Man in the Red Hat

On April 10, 2025, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy and the USC School of Dramatic Arts hosted Diplomacy through Stage: The Man in the Red Hat as part of its Stroum Arts & Diplomacy Series.

This presentation explored the powerful intersection of theater, journalism, and public diplomacy. It showcased The Man in the Red Hat, a play by Kevin Cirilli that draws on his extensive experience as a White House journalist. Cirilli, renowned for his innovative contributions to political reporting, brought a distinctive perspective on how storytelling on stage can serve as a diplomatic tool to foster understanding and forge meaningful connections across diverse audiences.

Kevin Cirilli shared his insights and experiences from the corridors of power, reflecting on the broader impact of dramatic narratives in shaping identity, resilience, and global dialogue. Selected excerpts from The Man in the Red Hat highlighted how theater can spark conversations about the intricate links between politics and public diplomacy.

About Kevin Cirilli

Kevin Cirilli is a seasoned journalist and emerging playwright known for his incisive reporting and innovative storytelling. As founder of mtf.tv’s “meet the future” platform and former Bloomberg chief Washington correspondent during the first Trump administration, he has provided in-depth coverage on finance, innovation, and global affairs from around the world. His dynamic career spans over a decade during which he advised leading philanthropists, business leaders, and policymakers on critical issues at the intersection of security, technology, and international relations.

Cirilli’s nonpartisan approach has taken him from Saudi Arabia to South Africa and from Vietnam to the heart of Washington D.C., earning him recognition as one of America’s most trusted voices on policy and finance. Now turning his keen insights to the stage, his debut play, The Man in the Red Hat, shaped by his experiences as one of the nation’s youngest TV correspondents, has already sparked buzz in New York, Washington D.C., and California, promising a fresh perspective on diplomacy and the art of storytelling.

About Cynthia Stroum

A native of Seattle, Cynthia Stroum earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Southern California.   After several years working in public relations and in the television industry Cynthia began building a personal investment portfolio as an angel investor in over twenty successful technology, biotechnology and retail start-up companies, Starbucks Coffee Company being one of them.  Cynthia made her producing debut with the highly acclaimed 2004 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun (starring Sean Combs). Additional nominated productions have included Come From Away, Network (starring Bryan Cranston), Burn This (starring Adam Driver), Fat Ham and most recently winning a Tony Award for the 2023 Broadway revival of Parade (starring Ben Platt). Cynthia has also served on local and national boards over the last 40 years with a focus on politics, the arts and philanthropy. Her greatest honor, however, was serving as the 20th Ambassador of the United States of America to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2009-2011 under President Barack Obama.