The Tufts University Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies kicks off its Fall Festival of Plays, three staged readings directed by Maurice Emmanuel Parent and presented in a streaming format. The works explore systemic racism, class divisions, and politics, which the department hopes will provide a jumping-off point for ongoing conversations about the role of theatre in community transformation. Opening the festival today is The New Black Fest's "HANDS UP: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments," which will be available for…