Antigone in Savannah Theater of War Productions 2023-01-05 | Antigone in Savannah fuses dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Sophocles’ Antigone with live choral and gospel music performed by choirs and singers from Savannah, St. Louis, and New York City to frame powerful audience-driven dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of honoring the dead and healing historical wounds. This special, hybrid event took place in Savannah, Georgia at First African Baptist Church, with an opening ceremony in the Unnamed Square (formerly Calhoun Square) near an unmarked burial ground for enslaved Africans. By performing Sophocles’ Antigone, an ancient play about a young woman who puts everything on the line to bury her brother, for diverse audiences on this sacred ground and on Zoom, the project aims to generate compassion, reverence, understanding, and positive action. Co-presented by Theater of War Productions, The On Being Project, and the Center for Jubilee, Reconciliation, & Healing.Featuring performances by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Kara Young (The Punisher), Marjolaine Goldsmith (Dress), Ato Blankson-Wood (When They See Us), Rosalyn Rouse (Susie King Taylor: What A Wonderful Revolution), Rev. Dr. Leonard Small (Pastor, Litway Baptist Church), and Krista Tippett (Founder + Editor in Chief, The On Being Project).Special thanks to First African Baptist Church, Savannah, GA.Soloists: Daniel McRath, Duane Foster, De-Rance Blaylock, and John Leggette Chorus: De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar, Latricia Allen, and Marcelle Lashley Musicians: Guitar: Terrance Willams, Bass: Warren Daniels, Keyboard/ Organ: Jason Davis, Piano: Randall Williams, Saxophone: Ja’Mes Davis, Drums: Kenneth CrawfordSound Designer: Matt CraigLighting Designer: Kent SpragueStage Manager: Ange LopalitoTranslated, directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Music composed and conducted by Dr. Philip A. Woodmore. Special thanks to First African Baptist Church. Produced by THE OFFICE performing arts + film. Thank you to RG Media Affiliates. Supported by The Hearthland Foundation. Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.Edited by OFF-WHITE MEDIA.
Willem Dafoe and Jason Isaacs in An Enemy of The People #willemdafoe #jasonisaacs Theater of War Productions 2026-08-02 | ...
Willem Dafoe stars in An Enemy of The People: SNF Nostos 2026 Theater of War Productions 2026-07-06 | This presentation of An Enemy of the People took place in Athens, Greece on June 24 at 12pm EDT / 7pm EEST on the stage of Stavros Niarchos Hall, home of the Greek National Opera.This special event featured performances by Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man, Poor Things), Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus, Harry Potter), Brían F. O’Byrne (Conclave, Million Dollar Baby), Frankie Faison (Coming to America, The Wire), Marjolaine Goldsmith (Company Manager, Theater of War Productions), Rafika Chawishe (Dangerous Truth, Miss Violence), and Laurie Eustis (poet). These actors were joined by members of the SNF Nostos Youth Advisory Committee, a group of sixteen young people from four continents, who played the Citizens in the play’s famous town hall scene.An Enemy of the People presents acclaimed actors, journalists, public health leaders, scientists, climate activists, elected officials, and local community members performing dramatic readings of scenes from Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 play as a catalyst for powerful, guided audience discussions about public health, freedom of the press, and environmental justice. The play tells the story of a doctor who discovers the water supply in his small, rural town has been poisoned by a tannery. Despite his efforts to convey the truth to the public, the doctor fails to save his community from environmental disaster and is ultimately scapegoated by politicians, corporations, community members, and the local media for his whistleblowing.Adapted, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.Performed in English.We were delighted to perform in the 2026 SNF Nostos Festival alongside an amazing lineup in Athens, including David Byrne, The Flaming Lips, Gorillaz, John Cleese, and more.
The Oedipus Project featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Anthony Fauci Theater of War Productions 2026-04-24 | The Oedipus Project presents acclaimed actors, public servants, and community members reading scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as a catalyst for powerful, constructive, global discussions about climate change, ecological disaster, ethical leadership, and environmental justice. Sophocles’ ancient play is a timeless story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, intergenerational curses, and a pestilence and ecological collapse that ravages the city of Thebes. Seen through this lens, the play has served a powerful catalyst for engaging diverse communities in dynamic discussions about the climate crisis.Featuring performances by Jesse Eisenberg, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Jumaane Williams, Chuck Schumer, Mare Winningham, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Bill Irwin, Erika Rose, and Craig Wallace.The Oedipus Project at Georgetown University was presented as part of DC Climate Week on April 21, 2026, by Theater of War Productions, The Earth Commons, and the Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics.Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith. Technical support by Lasser Media.
A REFUTATION West Baltimore Theater of War Productions 2025-05-07 | A REFUTATION presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of excerpts from two conflicting historic accounts of Philadelphia’s 1793 yellow fever epidemic as a catalyst for guided audience discussions about health inequities in America today, grounded in the perspectives of nurses, caregivers, and first responders.Featuring pamphlets, letters, and rebuttals by Absalom Jones, Richard Allen, Matthew Carey, and Benjamin Rush, performed by Chad Coleman (The Wire, The Orville, The Walking Dead), Seth Gilliam (The Wire, The Walking Dead, Oz), Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent, 12 Years a Slave, The Queen’s Gambit), and Peter Marks (former Chief Theater Critic of the Washington Post).A REFUTATION was developed with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation in celebration of its 75th anniversary.Presented by Theater of War Productions, Union Memorial United Methodist Church, Ebenezer United Methodist Church – Capitol Hill, the JH Center for Medical Humanities and Social Medicine, the JH Program in Arts, Humanities, & Health, the JH Berman Institute of Bioethics, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and the Resilient Nurses Initiative - Maryland.Directed, adapted, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.This free, public, live, hybrid event took place on April, 23, 2025 on Zoom Webinar, broadcast from Union Memorial United Methodist Church.
A Refutation Theater of War Productions 2025-02-28 | A REFUTATION presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of excerpts from two conflicting historic accounts of Philadelphia’s 1793 yellow fever epidemic as a catalyst for guided audience discussions about health inequities in America today, grounded in the perspectives of nurses, caregivers, and first responders.The primary text—a pamphlet by Absalom Jones (the first Black Episcopal priest) and Richard Allen (founder of the AME church) describing the Black community’s experience of the epidemic—was the first federally copyrighted text by African American authors. It was written in response to a highly popular, short history of the epidemic by the Irish American publisher Matthew Carey, which traded in racist tropes and asserted that Black nurses and first responders had swindled and extorted the white population of Philadelphia for which they cared. In their pamphlet, Jones and Allen vigorously refuted Carey’s claims and debunked the medical theory—widely held at the time—that African Americans were immune to yellow fever, by drawing a stark, unsparing picture of their service and suffering during the epidemic.Featuring pamphlets, letters, and rebuttals by Absalom Jones, Richard Allen, Matthew Carey, and Benjamin Rush, performed by Chad Coleman (The Walking Dead, The Wire), Brían F. O'Byrne (Conclave, Million Dollar Baby), Michael Potts (The Wire, The Piano Lesson), and Peter Marks (former chief theater critic for The Washington Post).Presented by Theater of War Productions with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation in celebration of its 75th anniversary.In partnership with the DC Public Library and Ebenezer United Methodist Church - Capitol Hill.Directed, adapted, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.This free, public, live hybrid event took place on Zoom Webinar, broadcast from Ebenezer United Methodist Church - Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C on February 21, 2025.
Theater of War: Philoctetes DAV Theater of War Productions 2024-10-09 | Theater of War: Philoctetes took place in front of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial—featuring acclaimed actors and a chorus of veterans—to commemorate its 10th anniversary in Washington D.C.Theater of War is an innovative project that presents acclaimed actors and veterans performing scenes from Sophocles’ Philoctetes—an ancient play about a young man who is sent to betray a decorated warrior who has been abandoned on a desolate island—as a catalyst for facilitated discussions about healing the visible and invisible wounds of war. Using Sophocles’ play to forge a common vocabulary for dialogue, these events are aimed at generating compassion, understanding, awareness, and connection.This special presentation was broadcast from Washington DC in front of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial to commemorate its 10th Anniversary. Co-presented by Theater of War Productions and DAV (Disabled American Veterans). Featuring performances by Chad Coleman (The Wire, The Walking Dead), David Strathairn (Lincoln, Good Night and Good Luck.), Ato Blankson-Wood (Hamlet, When They See Us) and a chorus of veterans from the DAV community including: Ryan Burgos (Air Force and Army veteran, DAV Deputy Inspector General), Dan Clare (Marine and Air Force veteran, DAV Chief Communications and Outreach Officer), Daniel Contreras (Army veteran, DAV National Commander), Nancy Espinosa (Army, Reserve and National Guard veteran, DAV’s Past National Commander and Chairperson of the Board), Justin Hart (Army veteran, DAV’s Assistant National Service Director), Cynthia Madison (Army veteran, DAV National 2nd Junior Vice Commander), Naomi Mathis (Air Force veteran, DAV Assistant National Legislative Director), Kevin Miller (Marine veteran, DAV Assistant National Communications Director), David Riley (Army and Coast Guard veteran, DAV Past National Commander and Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation board member), and Anthony Swofford (Marine veteran, Author of Jarhead).Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.
Conversations During Air-Raid Sirens: A Documentary Symphonic Theater of War Productions 2024-09-10 | On June 20, 2024 we presented Conversations During Air-Raid Sirens, the world premiere of a searing and genre-blurring dramatic work of poetry and journalism by the renowned Ukrainian-American poet Ilya Kaminsky as a catalyst for a guided audience discussion about the war in Ukraine and the experience of modern urban warfare throughout the world. Kaminsky describes his new piece as a “documentary symphonic” aimed at giving audiences a “direct experience” of the “chaos/anarchy of the war,” told from the civilian perspective through lyric and testimony. The premiere of Conversations During Air Raid Sirens took place at The Greene Space with an in-person audience and a global audience on Zoom, and was followed by immediate responses from a panel of community members whose lives have been impacted by war—in New York City, Ukraine, and other parts of the world—culminating in facilitated dialogue aimed at generating compassion, understanding, and positive action.This event featured performances by Anthony Edwards (E.R., Top Gun), Mare Winningham (Dopesick, St. Elmo’s Fire), Ato Blankson-Wood (BlacKkKlansman, When They See Us), and John Turturro (The Batman, The Big Lebowski).Written by Ilya Kaminsky.Directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.Co-presented by Theater of War Productions and The Greene Space.Supported by the Authors Guild Foundation’s fund commissioning new dramatic works from contemporary poets. Here is the full list of Ukrainian poets and authors referenced in this piece.This event featured ASL interpretation and was captioned in English on Zoom with audio interpretation in Ukrainian and English on Zoom.This free, public, live hybrid event took place on Zoom Webinar, broadcast live from The Greene Space in NYC. РОЗМОВИ ПІД ЧАС ПОВІТРЯНИХ ТРИВОГ:ДОКУМЕНТАЛЬНА СИМФОНІЯвід Іллі КамінськогоРозмови Під Час Повітряних Тривог представляє світову прем'єру гострої та жанрово-змішаної драматичної поезії та журналістики відомого українсько-американського поета Іллі Камінського. Ця робота буде каталізатором для керованої дискусії з аудиторією про війну в Україні та досвіди сучасних військових конфліктів по всьому світу. Ілля Камінський описує свою нову творчу роботу як "документальну симфонію," що має на метінадати глядачам "прямий досвід хаосу/анархії війни"з цивільної перспективи. Прем'єра Розмов Під Час Повітряних Тривог відбудеться наживо в просторі "The Greene Space" у Нью Йорку, та віртуальна трансляція на платформі Zoom буде доступна для глобальної аудиторії. Одразу після проведення читань, буде проведена панельна дискусія за участі громадських діячів з Нью Йорку, України та інших куточків світу, чиї життя також були позначені війною. Прем'єра завершиться діалогом відкритим для усіх глядачів, спрямованим на створення співчуттів, розуміння, та дій.Актори: Ентоні Едвардс (E.R., Top Gun), Мер Вінінгем (Dopesick, St. Elmo’s Fire), Ато Бленксон-Вуд (BlacKkKlansman, When They See Us) та Джона Туртурро (The Batman, The Big Lebowski).Автор: Ілля Камінський.Режисер та ведучий:Брайан Доерріс.Співпрезентовано Theater of War Productions та "The Greene Space".За підтримки Фонду Гільдії Авторів, що фінансує замовлення нових драматичних творів сучасних поетів.Подія відбудеться 20 червня 2024 року з 13:00 до 15:30 за часовим поясом Нью-Йорка / з 20:00 до 22:30 за Києвом у The Green Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 100014.Реєстрація обов'язкова для участі наживо чи в Zoom!Субтитри англійською мовою будуть доступні на Zoom. Аудіопереклад українською та англійською мовами буде доступний на Zoom.
An Enemy of The People: Extinction Rebellion Theater of War Productions 2024-06-17 | Theater of War Productions and the world-wide environmental movement Extinction Rebellion joined forces to present scenes from Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People in Times Square on the Red Steps on June 12, featuring acclaimed actors and a “chorus” of climate activists, scientists, journalists, elected officials, and concerned citizens performing the role of the crowd in Ibsen’s 1882 play as a catalyst for a powerful, global conversation about climate change and the challenges of communicating the current environmental stakes before it’s too late. This free, live, hybrid event took place for an in-person audience on the Red Steps, as well as for a large global audience on Zoom.Featuring performances by Bill Murray (Rushmore), Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), Zach Grenier (The Good Fight), Peter Francis James (Oz), Jay O. Sanders (True Detective), Jumaane Williams (NYC Public Advocate), Peter Marks (former Chief Theater Critic, The Washington Post), and Nate Smith (Extinction Rebellion). Adapted, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Produced and technically directed by Marjolaine Goldsmith. Co-presented by The Sixth Festival.The play tells the story of a doctor who discovers the water supply in his small, rural town has been poisoned by a tannery. Despite his efforts to convey the truth to the public, the doctor fails to save his community from environmental disaster and is ultimately scapegoated by politicians, corporations, community members, and the local media for his whistleblowing.An Enemy of the People was first performed in Norway in 1882, and yet it speaks to the present moment as if it were written for our times — to the corrosive influence of power and money in politics, the distortions of the media, and the many other challenges to climate action, environmental justice, and public health in our culture today. By presenting scenes from the play in public settings, featuring a variety of stakeholders, the project aims to create the conditions for open and constructive dialogue and positive action at this critical juncture, when the stakes could not be higher.
Theater of War Productions + The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Trailer Theater of War Productions 2024-04-11 | The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund has been a supporter of four of our projects: The King Lear Project, Theater of War Frontline, The Suppliants Project, and The Nurse Antigone. We recently collaborated with them to create a trailer about our long-standing partnership. The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund focus on health, caregiving and ethics aligns with the mission of several of our projects and we are deeply grateful for their support. Learn more about The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund by visiting: https://thelmtif.org.The King Lear Project presents streamlined readings of scenes from Shakespeare’s King Lear to engage diverse audiences—including older adults, caregivers, and family members—in open, healing, constructive, discussions about the challenges of aging, dementia, and caring for friends and loved ones.Theater of War Frontline is an innovative project—developed by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Johns Hopkins Program in Arts, Humanities & Health—that presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of scenes from ancient Greek plays for audiences of frontline medical professionals to open up powerful dialogue about difficult subjects, fostering a sense of connection and promoting health-seeking behavior. By presenting ancient plays to doctors, nurses, EMTs, respiratory therapists, and the frontline community about emotionally-charged, ethically complex situations, Theater of War Frontline aims to create a brave space for open, candid dialogue and reflection, fostering compassion, a renewed sense of community, and positive action. The Suppliants Project tells the timeless story of fifty female refugees seeking asylum at a border from forced marriage and domestic violence. The play not only depicts the struggle of these women to cross into safety, but also the internal struggle within the city that ultimately receives them. Using a 2,500-year-old tragedy by Aeschylus as a catalyst for powerful gatherings and crucial conversations, The Suppliants Project engages diverse audiences in humanizing, constructive dialogue about the challenges and impact of war, migration, and seeking asylum. A groundbreaking project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles’ Antigone on Zoom—featuring professional actors and a chorus of frontline nurses—to help frame powerful, guided discussions about the unique challenges faced by nurses before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patient and Impatient Griselda: Margaret Atwood, Jesse Eisenberg, Araya Mengesha, and Maev Beaty Theater of War Productions 2023-10-20 | Theater of War Productions and Margaret Atwood return to the Toronto International Festival of Authors with an exciting new collaboration exploring power and control, domestic violence, and family dynamics by way of two versions of the same story, one written by Giovanni Boccaccio in 1348 during the bubonic plague and the other by Atwood in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Bocaccio’s version, a woman named Griselda remains in an abusive and controlling relationship, showing great patience and forbearance in the face of her husband’s sadism and cruelty. In Atwood’s version, Griselda takes matters in her own hands and, with the help of her sister, turns the tables on her husband.This free, public event featured a live, dramatic reading of the “Patient Griselda” story from Boccaccio's Decameron by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Fleishman is in Trouble), Maev Beaty (Beau is Afraid, Mouthpiece), and Araya Mengesha (Tiny Pretty Things, Nobody). Then, in response, Margaret Atwood performed “Impatient Grisleda,” a story that is narrated to a group of humans in quarantine by an alien that looks like an octopus. The readings of both texts was followed by immediate responses by community panelists and culminated in a guided audience discussion, facilitated by Bryan Doerries (Artistic Director, Theater of War Productions).Co-presented by Theater of War Productions and Toronto International Festival of Authors.This hybrid presentation took place in person at the Toronto Harbourfront Centre Theatre and on Zoom Webinar on September 30, 2023.
Keith David plays Ajax Theater of War Productions 2023-06-13 | Theater of War is an innovative public health project that presents acclaimed actors and Veterans reading scenes from Sophocles’ Ajax—an ancient play about the suicide of a great, respected warrior—as a catalyst for guided audience discussions about loneliness, mental health, suicide, combat stress, moral injury, and the impact of military service on individuals, families, and communities. These dynamic events aim to generate compassion and understanding between diverse audiences by forging a common vocabulary for openly discussing the visible and invisible wounds of war. This special presentation was co-presented by Theater of War Productions, Humana, Reveille Grounds, VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), and DAV (Disabled American Veterans), as part of Global Loneliness Awareness Week.This event took place on June 12, 2023 and featured performances by Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black, Dear Edward), Keith David (Platoon, Armageddon, Nope), Naomi Mathis (Air Force Veteran, DAV Associate National Legislative Director), Dan West (Adjutant General, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; Marine Veteran), and David Hanauer (Ensemble Manager of Olive Branch & Laurel Crown, Marine Veteran).Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.
The Nurse Antigone Finale Theater of War Productions 2023-05-23 | A groundbreaking project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles’ Antigone on Zoom—featuring professional actors and a chorus of frontline nurses—to help frame powerful, guided discussions about the past, present, and future of nursing. Antigone, an ancient play about a young woman who puts everything on the line to do what she believes is right, dramatizes the heavy cost of silencing and marginalizing caregivers, especially during times of crisis. By performing Sophocles’ play for diverse audiences, including nurses as well as concerned citizens, The Nurse Antigone aims to generate compassion, awareness, connection, and much-needed healing, while celebrating and advocating for nurses at this critical juncture in the history of their profession. This culminating hybrid event of The Nurse Antigone Series was broadcast from The Greene Space in New York City with a digital audience on Zoom on May 18th, 2023. Featuring performances by Kathryne Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent), Ato Blankson-Wood (When They See Us), David Strathairn (Nomadland), Adepero Oduye (12 Years a Slave), Anthony Edwards (Top Gun), New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Craig Manbauman (Nurse, Poet, U.S. Air Force Veteran), Charlaine Lasse (BSN, RN, RNC-NIC, Vascular Access Team, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center), and Sandy Cayo (Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Nursing). Co-presented by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, and the Resilient Nurses Initiative - Maryland.Supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith
The Oedipus Project Premiere featuring Oscar Isaac, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro Theater of War Productions 2023-04-20 | The Oedipus Project premiered on Zoom on May 7, 2020.Theater of War productions is an acclaimed social impact company that has been working at the intersection of public health and social justice for over 15 years. The company collaborates with leading film, theater, and television actors to present dramatic readings of seminal texts, culminating in guided audience discussions aimed at breaking down stigmas fostering empathy, compassion, and a deeper understanding of complex issues. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions placed upon public gatherings, the company retooled in April of 2020 to produce dynamic, online events on Zoom’s webinar platform. The goal was to create free, easily accessible opportunities for people to convene and engage in healing, constructive dialogue about a range of topics that had been accelerated or exacerbated by the pandemic, including mental health, isolation, police violence, homelessness, healthcare inequality, incarceration, racism, and the unique challenges faced by frontline medical professionals. The Oedipus Project was the first online event offered by Theater of War Productions on Zoom. The premiere featured Oscar Isaac, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Frankie Faison, David Strathairn, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Glenn Davis, and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams performing Sophocles' Oedipus the King as a catalyst for a powerful, facilitated conversation about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon diverse communities throughout the United States and the world. Sophocles’ play is a timeless story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, and a pestilence that ravages the city of Thebes. At the time that it was first performed, in 429 BC, the audience would have been reeling in the wake of a plague and its economic, political, and social aftermath. Seen through this lens, Oedipus the King seems as relevant now as it was in its own time. The premiere of The Oedipus Project was attended by more than 15,000 people from more than 40 countries who, at the height of the global lockdown, were hungry for community and connection. Since then, Theater of War Productions has presented more than 100 online events, reaching more than 300,000 people from more than 100 countries, spanning seven continents. This paradigm-shifting use of technology, strategized by Marjolaine Goldsmith, in service of direct, unmediated dialogue—across borders and boundaries—has been nothing short of revolutionary for the company and its ability to touch people all over the world and lift them out of isolation.Translated, Directed, and Facilitated by Bryan Doerries.Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.
The Susie King Taylor Project Theater of War Productions 2023-03-26 | The Susie King Taylor Project features dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of selections from Susie King Taylor’s Civil War memoir Reminiscences of My Life in Camp, as a catalyst for a guided audience discussion, grounded in the perspectives of Black Nurses and Veterans, aimed at generating compassion, awareness, connection, and much-needed healing.In her searing memoir, Susie King Taylor—the first Black Nurse to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War—describes her four years, without formal training or pay, caring for wounded and sick soldiers of the 33rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment. She also offers her reflections on life and conditions after the war in a powerful indictment of the Jim Crow South that speaks to the present moment with prescience and clarity.Featuring Tracie Thoms (Rent, The Devil Wears Prada).Presented by Theater of War Productions, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and The Susie king Taylor Center for Jubilee, visit: centerforjubilee.comCo-presented as part of The Nurse Antigone initiative by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, the Resilient Nurses Initiative - Maryland.Supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.Co-facilitated by Bryan Doerries and Charlaine Lasse.Directed by Bryan Doerries. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.This event took place on March 23, 2023.
Samira Wiley: The Susie King Taylor Project Theater of War Productions 2023-03-16 | The Susie King Taylor ProjectRSVP: susiekingtaylorproject.eventbrite.comMarch 23, 20236:00pm - 8:00pm EDTThe Susie King Taylor Project features dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of selections from Susie King Taylor’s Civil War memoir Reminiscences of My Life in Camp, as a catalyst for a guided audience discussion, grounded in the perspectives of Black Nurses and Veterans, aimed at generating compassion, awareness, connection, and much-needed healing.In her searing memoir, Susie King Taylor—the first Black Nurse to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War—describes her four years, without formal training or pay, caring for wounded and sick soldiers of the 33rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment. She also offers her reflections on life and conditions after the war in a powerful indictment of the Jim Crow South that speaks to the present moment with prescience and clarity.Featuring Samira Wiley (Orange Is the New Black, The Handmaid's Tale).Presented by Theater of War Productions, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and The Susie king Taylor Center for Jubilee.Co-presented as part of The Nurse Antigone initiative by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, the Resilient Nurses Initiative - Maryland.Supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.The Susie King Taylor Project will take place on Zoom Webinar and can be accessed on personal devices. The event Zoom link will be distributed via email and available to registered attendees starting two days prior to the event.
Margaret Atwood as Tiresias Theater of War Productions 2023-02-10 | Join us on February 23rd, at 5:00pm EST for The Nurse Antigone! RSVP: nurseantigonesigma.eventbrite.comA groundbreaking project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles’ Antigone on Zoom—featuring professional actors and a chorus of frontline nurses—to help frame powerful, guided discussions about the unique challenges faced by nurses. Antigone, an ancient play about a young woman who puts everything on the line to do what she believes is right, dramatizes the heavy cost of silencing and marginalizing caregivers, especially during times of crisis. By performing Sophocles’ play for diverse audiences, including nurses as well as concerned citizens, The Nurse Antigone aims to generate compassion, awareness, connection, and much-needed healing, while celebrating and advocating for nurses at this critical juncture in the history of their profession. Featuring performances by Margaret Atwood (Author of The Handmaid's Tale), Frankie Faison (The Wire), Jessie Buckley (Women Talking), Jumaane Williams (Public Advocate NYC), Ato Blankson-Wood (When They See Us), Marjolaine Goldsmith (Dress), Jeannette (Jeannie) Meyer, (Clinical Nurse Specialist for Palliative Care at UCLA Health, Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital) Jason Kirchick (MEDSURG-RN University of Vermont Medical Center), Olivia Williams-Coombs (RN, RM, CEN, University Hospital Of the West Indies, Jamaica), Alysia Erin Pack (DNP, APRN, FNP-C, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Family Nurse Practitioner, Old Dominion University School of Nursing, Graduate Faculty - Adjunct President-Elect, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners), and Desmond O. Croker (RN, Dip. OHS, BSN, CCDE, MSN Nurse Educator at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College).Co-presented by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, and the Resilient Nurses Initiative - Maryland.Co-hosted by Sigma.Supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.The Nurse Antigone will take place on Zoom Webinar and can be accessed on personal devices. The event Zoom link will be distributed via email and available to registered attendees starting two days prior to the event.
The Frederick Douglass Project Theater of War Productions 2023-02-10 | The event on Feb 8, 2023 featured a reading by the Emmy Award-winning actor Keith David (Nope, Platoon, The Princess and the Frog) of a speech delivered by Frederick Douglass at the National Convention of Colored Men in Louisville, Kentucky on September 24, 1883, followed by community panelist remarks and a guided audience discussion aimed at fostering compassion, understanding, and positive action. Co-presented by Theater of War Productions, the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture, and the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State in collaboration with the Colored Conventions Project and Douglass Day at the Center for Black Digital Research at Penn State.Directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Co-facilitated by Dominic Dupont.Support provided by Richard Robert Brown Program Endowment. Additional support provided by the following Penn State partners: College of the Liberal Arts, College of Health and Human Development, University Libraries, Office of the Vice Provost for Commonwealth Campuses, Smeal College of Business, and Penn State Wilkes-Barre.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.
The Frederick Douglass Project, featuring Keith David Theater of War Productions 2023-02-01 | The Frederick Douglass Project presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of speeches by Frederick Douglass for diverse audiences on Zoom as a catalyst for powerful dialogue about the impact of discrimination, racialized violence, structural inequality, and deferred justice upon individuals, families, professionals, and communities. The event will feature a reading by the Emmy Award-winning actor Keith David (Nope, Platoon, The Princess and the Frog) of a speech delivered by Frederick Douglass at the National Convention of Colored Men in Louisville, Kentucky on September 24, 1883, followed by community panelist remarks, and culminating in a guided audience discussion aimed at fostering compassion, understanding, and positive action. Join us on February 8, at 6pm EST. RSVP: frederickdouglassproject.eventbrite.comCo-presented by Theater of War Productions, the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture, and the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State in collaboration with the Colored Conventions Project and Douglass Day at the Center for Black Digital Research at Penn State.Directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Co-facilitated by Dominic Dupont.Support provided by Richard Robert Brown Program Endowment. Additional support provided by the following Penn State partners: College of the Liberal Arts, College of Health and Human Development, University Libraries, Office of the Vice Provost for Commonwealth Campuses, Smeal College of Business, and Penn State Wilkes-Barre.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.The Frederick Douglass Project will take place on Zoom Webinar and can be accessed on personal devices. The event Zoom link will be distributed via email and available to registered attendees starting 2 days prior to the event.This event will be captioned in English.
Theater of War: Philoctetes: Willem Dafoe, Jason Isaacs, Nyasha Hatendi, and a chorus of Veterans Theater of War Productions 2023-01-10 | Theater of War is an innovative project that presents acclaimed actors and Veterans performing scenes from Sophocles’ Philoctetes—an ancient play about a young man who is sent to betray a decorated warrior who has been abandoned on a desolate island—as a catalyst for facilitated town hall discussions about healing the visible and invisible wounds of war. Using Sophocles’ play to forge a common vocabulary for open dialogue, these events are aimed at generating compassion, understanding, awareness, and connection. Each performance is followed by community panelist remarks and a guided audience discussion.Co-presented by Theater of War Productions and Bravehound, a Scottish charity that supports former servicemen, women and their families by providing service dogs and training to Veterans. Sophocles’ Philoctetes tells the story of a young man who is sent to betray a decorated warrior who has been abandoned on a desolate island by his own men because of a mysterious chronic illness. The Greeks learn from an oracle that in order to win the Trojan War they must rescue the warrior from the island and bring him to Troy. The young man is sent to the island and ordered to deceive the warrior, win his trust, and trick him into returning with him to Troy. But in the process of carrying out his orders, the young man discovers the true meaning of loyalty and risks everything to help his new friend. At its core, Sophocles’ Philoctetes is about how the wounded often become the most powerful healers.Featuring performances by Willem Dafoe, Nyasha Hatendi, Jason Isaacs, Latoya Lucas (US Army Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient), Mick McConnell (Royal Air Force Police Veteran), Lorna McConnell (Royal Air Force Police Veteran), Shaun Johnson (Royal Artillery Veteran).Translated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.#willemdafoe #nyashahatendi #jasonisaacs #sophocles #philoctetes #theaterofwar #bravehound #veterans
The Suppliants Project: Ukraine, Notre Dame Forum Theater of War Productions 2022-10-06 | The Suppliants Project: Ukraine will present dramatic readings of Aeschylus’ Suppliants live in-person in the University of Notre Dame's iconic football stadium on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. EDT—featuring professional actors and a chorus of Ukrainian students—to help frame guided discussions about the impact of war on individuals, families, and communities. Using a 2,500-year-old text as the catalyst for powerful, global dialogue, The Suppliants Project: Ukraine seeks to amplify and humanize the voices and perspectives of people whose lives have been touched by war, including refugees, students, activists, and artists from Ukraine and other countries, who participate in the performance and discussion, both in person and virtually from locations all over the world. The Oct. 3 event at Notre Dame represents the second installment of the project that seeks to engage both local and global audiences. The Suppliants is an ancient Greek play about a group of refugees who seek asylum in the city of Argos from forced marriage and violence. The play not only depicts the struggle of these refugees to cross a border into safety, but also the internal struggle within the country that ultimately receives them, as its citizens wrestle with how best to address the crisis at their border and whether to go to war on behalf of the refugees seeking their protection. Featuring performances by Golden Globe-winning and Emmy Award-winning actor Anthony Edwards (Top Gun, E.R., Inventing Anna), Emmy Award-winning actor Keith David (Nope, Armageddon, The Thing), actor Tate Donovan (Friends, The O.C., Hercules) and Ukrainian students from Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv who are studying at the University of Notre Dame for the 2022 Fall Semester: Bohdana Yakobchuk, Kristina Obluchynska, Olenka Tsyhankova, Olha Droniak, Yaryna Pysko, Solomiia Rozlutska, and Sofia Dobko.This special event was presented as part of the Notre Dame Forum 2022-2023: War & Peace.Directed, facilitated, and translated from Ancient Greek to English by Bryan Doerries.Play translated from English into Ukrainian by Oksana Yakushko and Ganna Stembkovska. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith. Special thanks to Notre Dame Studios.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.This event was captioned in English and Ukrainian with audio interpretation in English and Ukrainian.Понеділок, 3 жовтня 2022 р, 19:00 EDTПроект Suppliants: Україна представить драматичне читання «Благальникі» Есхіла наживо на легендарному футбольному стадіоні Університету Норт-Дам 3 жовтня о 19:00 за EDT – з участю професійних акторів і хору українських студентів – щоб допомогти створити міжнародну дискусію про вплив війни на на людей, родини та громади.Використовуючи 2500-річний текст як каталізатор потужного глобального діалогу, проект Suppliants: Україна прагне посилити та гуманізувати голоси та погляди людей, життя яких торкнулася війна, зокрема біженців, студентів, активістів та митців, з України та інших країн, які беруть участь у виставі та обговоренні як в прямому ефірі, так і віртуально з різних куточків світу. Подія 3 жовтня в Нотр-Дамі є другою частиною проекту, який прагне залучити як місцеву, так і глобальну аудиторію. Подія буде з субтитрами англійською та з аудіоперекладом українською та англійською мовами.Режисер, фасилітатор і переклад із давньогрецької на англійську Браян Доерріс. Переклад п’єси з англійської на українську Оксани Якушко. Представлено в рамках Форуму Норте-Дам 2022-2023: Війна і мир
The Suppliants Project Ukraine Theater of War Productions 2022-07-18 | The Suppliants Project: Ukraine presents live, dramatic readings of Aeschylus’ play The Suppliants on Zoom—featuring professional actors and a chorus of Ukrainian citizens—to help frame global discussions about the War in Ukraine and the unique challenges now faced by the people of Ukraine and those who support them. Using a 2,500-year-old text as catalyst for a powerful, international discussion, The Suppliants Project: Ukraine seeks to amplify and humanize the voices and perspectives of Ukrainian citizens, refugees, soldiers, immigrants, politicians, activists, and artists who participate in the performance and discussion on their personal devices on Zoom from locations within Ukraine and in neighboring countries. The Suppliants is an ancient Greek play about a group of refugees who seek asylum in the city of Argos from forced marriage and violence. The play not only depicts the struggle of these refugees to cross a border into safety, but also the internal struggle within the country that ultimately receives them, as its citizens wrestle with how best to address the crisis at their border and whether to go to war on behalf of the refugees seeking their protection. Featuring performances by Oscar Isaac, Willem Dafoe, David Strathairn, Kira Meshcherska (Actor, 12 years old, Kyiv, Ukraine), Dmytro Zaleskyi (Doctor, Psychiatrist, Analyst, Head of the Mobile Medical Center, Ukrainian Territorial Defense), Lyudmila Yankina (Human Rights Defender, Humanitarian Volunteer, ZMINA Human Rights Center, Ukraine), Olena Martynenko (Communication Manager, Good Bread bakery, Kyiv), Tatiana Tolpezhnikov, (PhD in Economics, Refugee from Mariupol, Ukraine) and Roman Tolpezhnikov (Associate Professor & Dean, Mariupol State University, Refugee from Mariupol, Ukraine).Directed and translated from the Ancient Greek to English by Bryan Doerries. Co-facilitated by Bryan Doerries and Oksana Yakushko. Play translated into Ukrainian by Oksana Yakushko. Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith. WAYS TO HELPThe Chorus of Ukrainians has compiled the following list of organizations that are on the ground helping Ukrainians survive:• Good Bread from Good People - https://eng.goodbread.com.ua• ZMINA Center for Human Rights - https://zmina.ua/en/# • United24 - is the charitable contribution organized by the Office of Zelensky - https://u24.gov.ua• Voices of Children is an organization that supports therapists and other providers offering probono work with Ukrainian children - https://voices.org.ua/en/• Come Back Alive - supporting military in Ukraine - https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/ • Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PFVMH), https://www.medbat.org.ua/en/Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.
The Nurse Antigone Theater of War Productions 2022-04-20 | A groundbreaking project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles’ Antigone on Zoom—featuring professional actors and a chorus of frontline nurses—to help frame powerful, guided discussions about the unique challenges faced by nurses before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Antigone, an ancient play about a young woman who puts everything on the line to do what she believes is right, dramatizes the heavy cost of silencing and marginalizing caregivers, especially during times of crisis. By performing Sophocles’ play for diverse audiences, including nurses as well as concerned citizens, The Nurse Antigone aims to generate compassion, awareness, connection, and much-needed healing, while celebrating and advocating for nurses at this critical juncture in the history of their profession. Over the next year, The Nurse Antigone will be presented twelve times, in partnership with local and national nursing organizations, medical facilities, and schools of nursing throughout the country and the world, fostering dialogue and a renewed sense of community between nurses, while engaging the general public in crucial conversations about the future of nursing. Co-presented by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, and the Resilient Nurses Initiative - Maryland.Supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.Featuring performances by Tracie Thoms, Margaret Atwood, Bill Camp, and Taylor Schilling, and remarks by nurses Ruth Kinsella, Kara Curry, Charlaine Lasse, and Craig Manbauman.
The Education of Corporal John Musgrave Book Event Theater of War Productions 2022-04-15 | *This video contains descriptions of graphic violence and strong language.*This special collaboration between Theater of War Productions and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) presented live readings from The Education of Corporal John Musgrave, a searing new memoir about the Vietnam War and its aftermath, as a catalyst for a powerful, intergenerational discussion about the cost of war and the challenges of healing wounds, both visible and invisible."There’s not a false note in this book, full of both pride and sorrow. It’s just the retort to those who wonder why Vietnam vets can’t just forget about the past and move on… Smart and self-aware, Musgrave delivers one of the best recent books on America’s experience in Vietnam." --Kirkus, starredFeaturing live readings by actors Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens), David Strathairn (Nomadland), and COL (Ret.) Gregory D. Gadson (Battleship), Ashleigh Byrnes (Deputy National Communications Director, DAV) and author John Musgrave.Directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries.Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith.Order your copy here: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/541780/the-education-of-corporal-john-musgrave-by-john-musgrave
The Wound-Dresser by Walt Whitman Theater of War Productions 2022-02-15 | This special collaboration between Theater of War Productions, Community Building Art Works, and @Poetry in America presented live readings from Walt Whitman’s poem “The Wound-Dresser,” which centers on the poet's experience caring for Civil War veterans, as a catalyst for a powerful, guided discussion about the poem’s enduring relevance today. The event also featured clips from Poetry in America’s recent episode on “The Wound-Dresser,” as well as live responses from da group of veterans and caregivers, to help frame crucial dialogue between diverse communities about the challenges of healing wounds—both visible and invisible—at this critical moment in our nation’s history.Live readings by actors David Strathairn (Nomadland), Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Craig Manbauman (Poet, Nurse, United States Air Force Veteran), Maj. (Ret.) Belena Stuart Marquez (United States Air Force Veteran), and COL (Ret.) Gregory D. Gadson (Battleship).Facilitated by Bryan Doerries & Seema RezaIntroduced by Elisa NewProduced by Marjolaine GoldsmithSupport for our digital programming is provided, in part, by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The Oedipus Project: Climate Crisis Theater of War Productions 2021-05-05 | The Oedipus Project presents acclaimed actors reading scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King on Zoom as a catalyst for powerful, constructive, global conversations about climate change, ecological disaster, and environmental justice. Sophocles’ ancient play, first performed in 429 BC, just after a plague that killed nearly one-third of the Athenian population, is a story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, intergenerational curses, willful blindness, and a pestilence and ecological collapse that ravages the archaic city of Thebes. Seen through this lens, Oedipus the King appears to have been a powerful tool for helping Athenians communalize trauma and loss, while interrogating their own complicit role in the suffering, not just of those around them but of generations to come. This free, live, public event was presented on April 27th, 2021 as part of the Nobel Prize Summit: Our Planet, Our Future, hosted by the Nobel Foundation and organized by the U. S. National Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the Stockholm Resilience Centre/Beijer Institute. Featuring performances by Bill Murray, Corey Hawkins, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Frankie Faison, David Strathairn, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Jumaane Williams, and a Chorus of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, including Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Harold Varmus.Panelists:Vanessa Nakate: Climate Activist, UgandaDJ Saravese: PoetLaura Verónica Muñoz: Climate Activist, ColombiaJulialynne Walker, Urban Grower Tim Norris: FarmerTranslated, directed, and facilitated by Bryan DoerriesProduced by Marjolaine Goldsmith
The Oedipus Project: Jeffrey Wright plays Tiresias Theater of War Productions 2021-04-21 | The Oedipus Project presents acclaimed actors reading scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King on Zoom as a catalyst for powerful, constructive, global conversations about climate change, ecological disaster, and environmental justice. Sophocles’ ancient play, first performed in 429 BC, just after a plague that killed nearly one-third of the Athenian population, is a story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, intergenerational curses, willful blindness, and a pestilence and ecological collapse that ravages the archaic city of Thebes. Seen through this lens, Oedipus the King appears to have been a powerful tool for helping Athenians communalize trauma and loss, while interrogating their own complicit role in the suffering, not just of those around them but of generations to come. This free, public event is presented as part of the Nobel Prize Summit: Our Planet, Our Future, hosted by the Nobel Foundation and organized by the National Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the Stockholm Resilience Centre/Beijer Institute.Featuring performances by Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) Frances McDormand (Nomadland), Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Frankie Faison (The Wire), David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck.), Marjolaine Goldsmith (Company Manager, Theater of War Productions), and Jumaane Williams (New York City Public Advocate), and a Chorus of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, including Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Harold Varmus.
The Oedipus Project: Frances McDormand plays Jocasta Theater of War Productions 2021-04-21 | The Oedipus Project presents acclaimed actors reading scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King on Zoom as a catalyst for powerful, constructive, global conversations about climate change, ecological disaster, and environmental justice. Sophocles’ ancient play, first performed in 429 BC, just after a plague that killed nearly one-third of the Athenian population, is a story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, intergenerational curses, willful blindness, and a pestilence and ecological collapse that ravages the archaic city of Thebes. Seen through this lens, Oedipus the King appears to have been a powerful tool for helping Athenians communalize trauma and loss, while interrogating their own complicit role in the suffering, not just of those around them but of generations to come. This free, public event is presented as part of the Nobel Prize Summit: Our Planet, Our Future, hosted by the Nobel Foundation and organized by the National Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the Stockholm Resilience Centre/Beijer Institute.Featuring performances by Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) Frances McDormand (Nomadland), Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Frankie Faison (The Wire), David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck.), Marjolaine Goldsmith (Company Manager, Theater of War Productions), and Jumaane Williams (New York City Public Advocate), and a Chorus of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, including Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Harold Varmus.
The World on Fire: Ecology, Poetry, and Disability Justice Theater of War Productions 2021-04-01 | An evening of readings and a dialogue among distinguished poets and young poets of tomorrow— a chorus of diverse voices exploring the transformative power of words at the intersection of disability and climate justice. Presented by Theater of War Productions, Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Office of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach at the Burton Blatt Institute, Nine Mile Art Corp, Wordgathering: A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature, and The International Writing Program.Supported by the Academy of American Poets with funds from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.Co-facilitated by Bryan Doerries and Diane R. Wiener.Featuring poems and performances by: Ona Gritz, Stephen Kuusisto, Ekiwah Adler-Belendez, Taylor Brorby, Camisha Jones, Maddy Dietz (Class of 2020 National Student Poet), Christian Butterfield (Class of 2019 National Student Poet), Alondra Uribe (Class of 2019 National Student Poet), David James "DJ" Savarese, and Christopher Costello.Support for our digital programming is provided, in part, by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Those Winter Sundays Theater of War Productions 2021-01-30 | This special collaboration between Theater of War Productions and the PBS series Poetry in America presented readings by the actors Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) and Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit) of Robert Hayden's 1960s sonnet “Those Winter Sundays,” as a catalyst for a powerful, guided discussion about the everyday struggle of surviving, thriving, and connecting during this incredibly difficult winter. The event also featured a recorded reading of Hayden's poem by President Joe Biden, helping frame crucial dialogue between diverse communities about economic hardship, family dynamics, parenting, domestic violence, racism, and American identity during this divided and fractured time. Using the poem to build bridges and create a vocabulary for talking about the challenges before us and within our homes, Those Winter Sundays aims to foster compassion, understanding, healing, and resilience.Facilitated by Bryan Doerries and Elisa New.Featuring the following panelists:Karen Bailey, Teacher, Flint, MIAnthony Almojera, EMS Officer FDNYManasi Garg, National Student Poet, Saratoga, CAAl-Tabar Hudgins, RISE Project Uptown Coordinator, NYCNathalie Arzu, RISE Project Uptown Program Manger#thosewintersundays #billmurray #mosesingram #theaterofwarproductions #poetryinamerica #presidentjoebiden
“Be Steadfast” from The Drum Major Instinct, Jan 18, 2021 Theater of War Productions 2021-01-19 | "Be Steadfast," composed and conducted by Dr. Philip Woodmore, and sung by John Leggette, Duane Foster, and De-Rance Blaylock, is featured in The Drum Major Instinct.The Drum Major Instinct presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s "The Drum Major Instinct"—a powerful, cautionary sermon about the impulse in all humans to be first—for diverse audiences, with the goal of generating powerful dialogue about racism, inequality, and social justice, fostering compassion, understanding, and positive action. These readings are accompanied by original and arranged music composed and conducted by Dr. Philip Woodmore, featuring a choir of diverse singers from St. Louis, Missouri and New York City.On Sunday, February 4, 1968, Dr. King delivered "The Drum Major Instinct" at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, exactly two months before his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. In it, he prophetically spoke of his own imminent death and laid out a challenge to his congregation, and also the world, to harness an inborn human drive—“the desire to be out front, a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first”— and use it to promote justice, righteousness, and peace by channeling it into acts of service and love. The “distorted personality,” King argued, fails to harness this” the drum major instinct” for good and instead, "ends up trying to push others down in order to push himself up," leading to “the most tragic expressions of man's inhumanity to man,” including white supremacy, violence, consumerism, inequality, and unjust wars. More than fifty years after King’s death, and in light of the violence, bigotry, and sedition recently on display in the United States Capitol, his sermon resonates with new depth and meaning. In the spirit of promoting open, candid, constructive dialogue during this fractious, violent, divided time, we present The Drum Major Instinct with the hope that it will lead to much-needed healing, reflection, and resolve at this critical juncture in our nation’s history.This special presentation in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was co-presented by Theater of War Productions and the Office of the New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Featuring readings by Congressman Jamaal Bowman of New York, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit), and performances by soloists De-Rance Blaylock, Duane Foster, and John Leggette.Directed and Facilitated by Bryan DoerriesMusic Composed and Conducted by Dr. Philip WoodmoreCo- facilitated by De-Andrea Blaylock Johnson
“We Shall Overcome” from The Drum Major Instinct, Jan 18, 2021 Theater of War Productions 2021-01-19 | This rendition of "We Shall Overcome," arranged and conducted by Dr. Philip Woodmore, and sung by John Leggette, Duane Foster, and De-Rance Blaylock, is the final song in The Drum Major Instinct.The Drum Major Instinct presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s "The Drum Major Instinct"—a powerful, cautionary sermon about the impulse in all humans to be first—for diverse audiences, with the goal of generating powerful dialogue about racism, inequality, and social justice, fostering compassion, understanding, and positive action. These readings are accompanied by original and arranged music composed and conducted by Dr. Philip Woodmore, featuring a choir of diverse singers from St. Louis, Missouri and New York City.On Sunday, February 4, 1968, Dr. King delivered "The Drum Major Instinct" at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, exactly two months before his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. In it, he prophetically spoke of his own imminent death and laid out a challenge to his congregation, and also the world, to harness an inborn human drive—“the desire to be out front, a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first”— and use it to promote justice, righteousness, and peace by channeling it into acts of service and love. The “distorted personality,” King argued, fails to harness this” the drum major instinct” for good and instead, "ends up trying to push others down in order to push himself up," leading to “the most tragic expressions of man's inhumanity to man,” including white supremacy, violence, consumerism, inequality, and unjust wars. More than fifty years after King’s death, and in light of the violence, bigotry, and sedition recently on display in the United States Capitol, his sermon resonates with new depth and meaning. In the spirit of promoting open, candid, constructive dialogue during this fractious, violent, divided time, we present The Drum Major Instinct with the hope that it will lead to much-needed healing, reflection, and resolve at this critical juncture in our nation’s history.This special presentation in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was co-presented by Theater of War Productions and the Office of the New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Featuring readings by Congressman Jamaal Bowman of New York, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit), and performances by soloists De-Rance Blaylock, Duane Foster, and John Leggette.Directed and Facilitated by Bryan DoerriesMusic Composed and Conducted by Dr. Philip WoodmoreCo- facilitated by De-Andrea Blaylock Johnson
Theater of War Frontline Trailer Theater of War Productions 2020-11-18 | Theater of War Frontline is an innovative project—developed by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Johns Hopkins Program in Arts, Humanities & Health—that presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of scenes from ancient Greek plays for audiences of frontline medical professionals to open up powerful dialogue about difficult subjects, fostering a sense of connection and promoting health-seeking behavior. By presenting ancient plays to doctors, nurses, EMTs, respiratory therapists, and the frontline community about emotionally-charged, ethically complex situations, Theater of War Frontline aims to create a brave space for open, candid dialogue and reflection, fostering compassion, a renewed sense of community, and positive action. Throughout 2020, under a grant from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, we have presented Theater of War Frontline to the following frontline communities: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, NYC Uniformed EMS Officers Union, American College of Emergency Physicians, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Mount Sinai Health System, Doctors Without Borders, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, Lenox Hill Hospital, NYU Langone Health, and Montefiore Medical Center.Theater of War Productions Cast Members have included:Frances McDormand, Frankie Faison, David Strathairn, Jesse Eisenberg, Chad Coleman, Amy Ryan, Nyasha Hatendi, Marjolaine Goldsmith, David Zayas, Andrea Patterson, Kathryn Erbe, and Anthony Almojera.
Poetry For the Pandemic: November 12, 2020 Theater of War Productions 2020-11-14 | An evening of readings and a dialogue among distinguished poets and young poets of tomorrow— a chorus of diverse voices exploring the transformative power of words. Presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and Theater of War Productions.Featuring:Dr. Joshua Bennett, FacilitatorMahogany L. BrowneJuan Felipe Herrera, US Poet Laureate 2015–2017 Molly McCully BrownPatricia Smithand special guests: Tracie Thoms and Bill MurrayThe Class of 2020 National Student Poets: Maddie Dietz, Manasi Garg, Isabella Ramirez, Ethan Wang, and Anthony John Wiles, Jr. and alumni of the National Student Poets Program: Miles Hewitt, Sojourner Ahebee, Chasity Hale, Eileen Huang, Joey Reisberg, Kinsale Hueston, Daniel Blokh, Darius Atefat-Peckham, and Christian Butterfield.
Theater of War Theater of War Productions 2020-10-28 | Theater of War is an innovative public health project that presents readings of scenes from ancient Greek plays--Sophocles’ Ajax and Philoctetes--as a catalyst for guided discussions about the challenges faced by service members, veterans, and their families. Using Sophocles’ plays to forge a common vocabulary for openly discussing the visible and invisible wounds of war, these events are aimed at generating compassion and understanding between diverse audiences.We will be presenting Theater of War on November 6th 2020 as a collaboration with Bravehound, a Scottish charity that supports veterans and their families in the United Kingdom. We are proud to open this event up to the public, fostering healing dialogue with the Bravehound community. Visit: www.bravehound.co.ukFeaturing performances by Jason Isaacs, Nyasha Hatendi, and Lesley Sharp. Translated and directed, and facilitated by Bryan Doerries
A conversation with Gwen Carr and Valerie Bell about their tireless work as Mothers of the Movement Theater of War Productions 2020-10-15 | Theater of War Productions in partnership with The Brooklyn Rail present:Mothers of the Movement: Gwen Carr and Valerie Bell.A conversation with Gwen Carr—mother of Eric Garner, author of This Stops Today—and Valerie Bell—mother of Sean Bell, author of Just 23—about their tireless work as Mothers of the Movement to end police violence.Co-hosted by Dominic Dupont and Bryan Doerries of Theater of War Productions as part of The New Social Environment’s Common Ground Series. Featuring National Student Poet of the West, Manasi Garg, reading her poem "For Tamir Rice."“My son was murdered in 2014. George Floyd was murdered in 2020. Those were not the only two murders that happened. Every time that you hear another black unarmed man being killed, shot in the back, or banged up against the sidewalk, or tased to death, you say, ‘Oh my God, that’s my son again.’” —Gwen Carr"I couldn’t watch the video. I said to myself 'here we go again.’” — Valerie Bell
Theater of War Frontline Theater of War Productions 2020-10-05 | Frances McDormand plays Heracles and Frankie Faison plays Philoctetes in Theater of War for Frontline Medical Providers. Theater of War for Frontline Medical Providers is an innovative project—developed by Theater of War Productions, the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Johns Hopkins Program in Arts, Humanities & Health—that presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of scenes from ancient Greek plays for audiences of frontline medical providers to open up powerful dialogue about difficult subjects, fostering a sense of connection and promoting health-seeking behavior. By presenting ancient plays to doctors, nurses, EMTs, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare providers about emotionally-charged, ethically complex situations, Theater of War Frontline aims to create a brave space for open, candid dialogue and reflection, fostering compassion, a renewed sense of community, and positive action.Over the past decade, Theater of War Productions has honed its method and approach, through more than a thousand performances in medical and military settings, utilizing the power of the arts and humanities to dissolve hierarchies and generate a shared vocabulary for professional audiences to discuss stigmatized subjects. It is precisely because Theater of War Frontline does not feel like medicine that it is an effective intervention for medical professionals, who are often reluctant to express vulnerability, acknowledge error, or seek resources or help. Theater War Frontline presents a healthy alternative to standard medical debriefings and offers a dynamic way for clinicians to step back from their professional roles, bear witness to their own experiences, and come together as a community—without having to narrate their trauma—by discussing and interpreting empowering online performances of ancient plays.
Antigone in Ferguson Online Premiere Theater of War Productions 2020-09-28 | A performance of Sophocles’ Antigone to catalyze guided discussions about racialized violence, structural oppression, and social justice.Antigone in Ferguson was conceived in the wake of Michael Brown’s death in 2014, through a collaboration between Theater of War Productions and community members from Ferguson, MO. Antigone in Ferguson fusing dramatic readings by leading actors of Sophocles’ Antigone with live choral music performed by a choir of activists, police officers, youth, and concerned citizens from Ferguson and New York City. The performance is the catalyst for panel and audience-driven discussions about racialized violence, structural oppression, misogyny, gender violence, and social justice. In light of the current uprising and protests across the country and the world, catalyzed by the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Dion Johnson, and many others; and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on black and brown communities, it is our hope that Antigone in Ferguson will generate dialogue, consciousness, compassion, outrage, understanding, and positive action at this critical juncture.This special event was presented on August 9, 2020 as part of "The Virtual Experience" 6th Annual Michael Brown Memorial Weekend in honor of the life of Michael Brown Jr., and foregrounded the perspectives of families who have lost their loved ones to police brutality and community violence. We were honored to have Gwen Carr (Eric Garner’s mother), Valerie Bell (Sean Bell’s mother), Marion Gray-Hopkins (Gary Hopkins Jr’s mother), and Uncle Bobby X (Oscar Grant’s uncle) kick off the discussion with their gut responses to the performance, and Cori Bush introduce the event. This event featured live performances by Oscar Isaac, Tracie Thoms, Ato Blankson-Wood, Willie Woodmore, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, De-Rance Blaylock, Duane Martin Foster, Marcelle Davies Lashley, John Leggette, and Gheremi Clay, and the Antigone in Ferguson Choir. Live singing mixed and sent into Zoom webinar audio by Matthew Craig.Translated and directed, and facilitated by Bryan DoerriesMusic composed and conducted by Dr. Philip WoodmoreCo-facilitated by De-Andrea Blaylock Johnson#antigoneinferguson #theaterofwarproductions
Tragedies for the Pandemic Theater of War Productions 2020-09-25 | To kick off of Theater of War Productions' year-long virtual residency at Kenyon College, artistic director Bryan Doerries gave a lecture on September 24th, 2020.At the beginning of the pandemic, Theater of War Productions, a social impact company that had spent years performing ancient plays in unlikely places—hospitals, military bases, homeless shelters, and prisons—pivoted to Zoom. Their first online outing, The Oedipus Project, gathered more than 15,000 people from over 40 countries for a virtual performance of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, featuring Oscar Isaac, Frances McDormand, John Turturro, Jeffrey Wright and others, culminating in a facilitated, global discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on individuals, families, and communities. In the weeks and months that have followed, Theater of War Productions has presented more than a dozen performances on Zoom—projects based on Shakespeare’s King Lear, the Biblical Book of Job, and Sophocles’ Antigone and Women of Trachis—for an ever-expanding international audience. Now, Theater of War Productions turns its attention to Kenyon College, where it will launch a year-long virtual residency this fall. In his lecture, “Tragedies for the Pandemic,” Theater of War Productions’ Artistic Director and Kenyon alumnus Bryan Doerries (’98) describes how he and his company have used ancient tragedies to empower thousands of people all over the world to engage in vital, democratic, pluralistic discussions about some of the most challenging issues of our time, including racialized violence, healthcare inequality, and the moral suffering of frontline medical providers.
The Oedipus Project Trailer Theater of War Productions 2020-06-09 | The Oedipus Project is an innovative digital initiative by Theater of War Productions that will present acclaimed actors performing scenes from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as a catalyst for powerful, healing online conversations about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon diverse communities throughout the world. Sophocles’ ancient play, written and performed in 429 BC during the time of a plague that killed one-third of the Athenian population, is a timeless story of arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy, and a pestilence that ravages the city of Thebes. At the time the play was first performed, the audience would have been reeling in the wake of a pestilence and its economic, political, and social aftermath. Seen through this lens Oedipus the King appears to have been a powerful public health tool for helping Athenians communalize the trauma of the plague, through a story that is as relevant now as it was in its own time. Featuring performances by Frances McDormand, Oscar Isaac, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Frankie Faison, David Strathairn, Glenn Davis, Marjolaine Goldsmith and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.TRANSLATED, DIRECTED and FACILITATED BY BRYAN DOERRIESTheater of War Productions and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation are proud to celebrate their longstanding, ten-year partnership with this special performance of The Oedipus Project for a large, international audience through the Summer Nostos Festival.Co-presented by the Summer Nostos Festival by Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Theater of War Productions. The Brooklyn Public Library, New York City Office of The Public Advocate and the Weissman Family Foundation.
The Suppliants Project Theater of War Productions 2020-03-30 | The Suppliants Project tells the timeless story of fifty female refugees seeking asylum at a border from forced marriage and domestic violence. The play not only depicts the struggle of these women to cross into safety, but also the internal struggle within the city that ultimately receives them. Using a 2,500-year-old tragedy by Aeschylus as a catalyst for powerful gatherings and crucial conversations, The Suppliants Project engages diverse audiences in humanizing, constructive dialogue about the challenges of the current immigration crisis and its impact upon all that it touches.Featuring a chorus of Garifuna singers, musicians, and performers from Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala.
Prometheus in Prison Theater of War Productions 2019-09-23 | Prometheus in Prison is an innovative public health project that presents readings of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, an ancient Greek play about god who is imprisoned for stealing fire and giving it to humans, as a catalyst for powerful discussions about the challenges faced by individuals, families, and communities whose lives have been touched by the criminal justice system. For the past nine years, this groundbreaking project has been used to open up healing dialogue in a variety of settings, including prisons, detention centers, and public venues throughout the country and the world.
The Dionysus Project Theater of War Productions 2019-09-23 | The Dionysus Project is an innovative public health project that presents readings of scenes from Euripides' Bacchae, an ancient Greek play about the destructive power of intoxication, as a catalyst for town hall discussions about the impact of substance abuse and addiction upon individuals, families, and communities. The project uses an ancient Greek tragedy, written nearly 2500 years ago, to engage audiences in crucial discussions about the timelessness of the human struggle with substance abuse and addiction, as well as resources and solutions that communities can utilize today.
The Madness of Hercules Theater of War Productions 2019-09-23 | Hercules is an innovative project that presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of scenes from Euripides’ Madness of Hercules—an ancient Greek tragedy about an unthinkable act of violence commitment by an angry man with an invincible weapon—for audiences composed of concerned citizens, activists, students, and survivors and perpetrators of gun violence, in order to generate powerful dialogue between these communities, fostering compassion, understanding, awareness, and positive action.
The Dionysus Project Theater of War Productions 2019-08-16 | The Dionysus Project is an innovative, experiential training that presents acclaimed actors performing dramatic readings of scenes from The Bacchae, an ancient play about the coming of Dionysus—the god of ecstasy and wine—to Greece, as a catalyst for guided discussions about the unique barriers and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people today. This 90-minute, interactive training—half performance, half discussion—uses a Greek tragedy written nearly 2,500 years ago, about a god who challenges traditional notions of gender and sexual orientation, to catalyze powerful conversations between diverse audiences in professional settings, breaking down stereotypes, cultivating understanding and compassion, and inspiring positive action.
The Perception of Tape Theater of War Productions 2018-09-16 | KUWAIT08.05.2014Video by Sgt. Jesse Anderla U.S. Army Central Dramatic reading of Stephen Belber's play"Tape" for soldiers at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait on 5 Aug, 2014. This project is meant to address sexual assault and open the floor to discussion about the issue.
Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir: Daniel McRath Theater of War Productions 2018-09-11 | Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir! We are excited to introduce the choir members from St. Louis, MO and New York City who will be part of the upcoming five-week run of Antigone in Ferguson at Harlem Stage!
Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir: Sgt. Marcus Lewis Theater of War Productions 2018-09-10 | Meet the Antigone in Ferguson Choir! We are excited to introduce the choir members from St. Louis, MO and New York City who will be part of the upcoming five-week run of Antigone in Ferguson at Harlem Stage!
Storytelling After the Storm: Book of Job in Joplin, MO Theater of War Productions 2018-09-10 | In 2012, on the one-year anniversary of a tornado that devastated Joplin, MO, a theater company presented two public readings of “The Book of Job,” the story of a man so cursed that he turns against God. It started a community conversation that continues today. The reading was produced by Theater of War Productions, an organization that that uses theater and a variety of other media to address pressing public health and social issues, and performed by the actors Paul Giamatti, Arliss Howard, and David Strathairn.
