Annoucements

Veteran Artist Program Presents “The Telling Project” in Frederick

January 10, 2012

Seven area military veterans and family members will take the stage in a live performance of their own words transcribed and scripted from interviews conducted by playwright Jonathan Wei of The Telling Project. On Saturday, January 14th, the nationally-known Telling Project will perform an original, full-length production of “Telling: Baltimore, MD” for one show only at the Cultural Arts Center in downtown Frederick. 

The Telling Project works with communities and organizations to produce “Telling,” – an innovative performance in which military veterans and their family members, after interviews and subsequent training and rehearsal, stage the ‘telling’ of their stories for their communities.  The Telling Project creates opportunities for veterans to speak and their communities to listen.  After extensive interviews, performance training, and rehearsals, this cast is taking the bold step of “telling” the story of life and the military to the greater Baltimore/Washington community.  Stories from a mother of a fallen marine, an active duty medic, a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” veteran, and other personal accounts of service make this a must-see event that will change the way our veterans communicate with the community they live in.  David Dower of the Arena Stage says this project has “the potential to radically re-define the idea of the military in the American consciousness.”

The Telling Project has performed in Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Atlantic City, Washington DC, Baltimore, and other cities across the country and for live audiences of over 10,000. On Veterans’ Day 2009, at the invitation of Be The Change, Inc., the cast was honored to share the stage with First Lady Michelle Obama.  They are currently creating new productions in Iowa City and Birmingham and making a feature documentary on ‘the making of’ “Telling: Eugene” entitled In The Telling.

The project is a response to several critical issues: among these are widespread public ignorance of the immediate impact of war on individuals and communities; difficulties that this ignorance poses to soldiers transitioning back to civilian life; and the danger that ignoring the rift between the veteran and civilian populations poses to communities and the nation as a whole.  Central to the mission of The Telling Project is that it holds no political view as regards the military or its actions.  Rather, we promote the belief that the experiences of soldiers are a vital part of the nation’s heritage, and as such must be both respected and understood.  The Telling Project was born in May of 2007, when Jonathan Wei approached the Veterans and Family Student Association at the University of Oregon.  Wei and the VFSA produced and first performed “Telling: Eugene,” in February, 2008.

The Telling Project is, fundamentally, not a product but a process – by which we mean to say that purpose is to provide not a play (though this is the medium), but a formalized space in which discussion of what has become a difficult subject – military service – can be addressed in as direct a fashion as possible.  Because this is a discussion, understanding, opinions, emotions and by association, their expression, evolve.  For some of the players in Telling, this evolution is quite evident, resulting in revisions, re-phrasing and amendment to what they originally put forth in the interviews that comprise the base of the play.  For others, it’s a matter of performance – how they deliver their stories, a growing ownership or comfort that reveals further layers of emotions and insight.

The cast of “Telling: Baltimore, MD” consists of Frederick resident Erin Byers (Active Duty Army) as well as Cate Conroy (Army Veteran), Jeremy Johnson (Navy Veteran), Tracy Miller (Mother of Marine, KIA), Elijah Sacra (Marine Corps Veteran), Meghan Young (Wife of Marine Corps Veteran), and Patrick Young (Marine Corps Veteran).  This performance does contain mature language and the themes of war and is not recommended for children.  Tickets for the 8:00 p.m. show are $20 general admission and $15 for active duty military and veterans.  Advance ticket purchase is suggested, as this event could sell out, which are available by phone at 301-662-4190.  For more information about the Veteran Artist Program, visit www.veteranartistprogram.org and more information about The Telling Project can be found at www.thetellingproject.org.