Somalis have been in the news lately as young men with Twin Cities connection are implicated in terrorist incidents in East Africa.

The issue is terrorism gets lit onstage this summer with a side dose of love. Mixed Blood and Bedlam theaters, two companies located on Minneapolis' West Bank, have partnered to produce "Ku soo Dhawaada Xaafadeena (Welcome to Our Neighborhood)," a play crafted by playwright David Grant.

The new work is is drawn from about a dozen stories from the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Talented high school senior and community activist Nadifa Islaweyne (Hamdi Mohamed) falls for another community worker, Abdi Hassan (Abdi Farah). But Nadifa's family has reservations about both her work and her love life. Things come to a head when Abdi's close friend is arrested on suspicion of terrorism and Abdi is also arrested for allegedly sheltering a terrorist.

John Bueche, of Bedlam, directs a cast mostly emerging Somali talents (pictured). (7 p.m. July 23-24 and 28-31, Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av., Mpls. 612-338-6131 or online at www.mixedblood.com. )