Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, who co-wrote the play "OCTOBER 7," described a fire alarm that disrupted a performance at Northwestern University as a "cowardly" attempt at intimidation. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the alarm activated during the show, causing the evacuation of Cahn Auditorium. McElhinney told Fox News Digital that many audience members initially remained seated, believing the sirens were part of the production because the dialogue had recently discussed alarms and rockets. The couple believes someone deliberately set off the alarm after sitting through much of the performance. McAleer characterized the act as "insidious" because it caused fear without the visibility of an outside protest. He noted that while it was still October 6 in Chicago, it was already October 7 in Israel when the alarm sounded. Northwestern Media Relations stated that the building was declared safe after an investigation and that guests were invited back in. The event continued as planned and concluded at 9:45 p.m., with the Northwestern University Police Department continuing its investigation. The play consists of testimonies from individuals impacted by the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel. McElhinney and McAleer compiled these stories after traveling to Israel shortly after the attacks, a trip they took because they felt the events were being overlooked in favor of discussions about the war in Gaza. They interviewed approximately 20 people, with testimony from 15 included in the final script. McAleer said the standing ovation at the end of the show was a tribute to the actors, director, and stories, as well as a sign that the audience refused to be terrified. He argued that the incident reveals a dangerous environment on American college campuses for Jewish individuals. McElhinney noted that during the play's New York City run, a daily NYPD presence was required, which she described as unusual for a New York production. The couple plans to file a police report about the Northwestern incident and hopes the person responsible faces legal consequences.