"Periphery," a compelling piece written by Ed Simpson, serves as a docudrama centering on the historic 1960 sit-ins at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. The narrative unfolds as four African-American freshmen from a local college take a courageous stand by sitting at the "whites only" counter and ordering coffee. Despite facing refusal of service and requests to leave, they persist, remaining seated until the store closes. The next day, their numbers grow as more young people join in, sparking a movement that spreads to other Southern cities, where activists risk their lives in the face of white mobs. Eventually, Woolworth's yields, and five months after the sit-ins commenced, the café at the Greensboro store begins serving black customers.

The title "Periphery" captures the essence of the play, as it delves into the lives of characters not directly at the epicenter of the sit-ins. This includes Eugene, a black freshman at a nearby college struggling with the consequences of standing up for what he believes is right. Additionally, the narrative explores characters like Jerry, a mean-mouthed racist youth grappling with questions about Elvis's racial identity. Jerry represents the uneducated white male whose sense of racial superiority reinforces a malicious ego. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, the play places the era on the periphery — at the cusp of transition, marking the end of one era and the dawn of another.