Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! has a glowing review of a Connecticut high school play that was denied performance at their own school, the subject matter of Iraq Vets in their own words deemed too controversial.
Last Sunday night, as millions of Americans tuned in to the two Tonys—the final episode of “The Sopranos,” to see whether Tony Soprano lived or died, and the Tony Awards, celebrating the best in American theater—actor Stanley Tucci (who played “Nigel” in “The Devil Wears Prada") was in an off-Broadway theater, the Culture Project, watching high school students perform a play about war.
The production, “Voices in Conflict,” moved the audience to tears, ending with a standing ovation for the teenage actors, still reeling from a controversy that had propelled them onto the New York stage. Their high school principal had banned the play.
Following Sunday’s production, Allan Buchman, Culture Project’s artistic director, summed up, “What we saw tonight was the reason to have a theater.”
With the evening winding down, the kids were already talking about their next performance, this one at the famed Public Theater, another prominent New York institution, which will be attended by some of the soldiers the student actors play. Jimmy said: “It means a lot that we can share their stories. We got word from India, Japan ... and even Iowa.” The audience laughed. It was getting late. As the students packed up to head home to Connecticut, they wondered if they would ever be allowed to perform the play where it all began, at Wilton High.
(Left) Amy Goodman (Right) Stanley Tucci
Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on 500 stations in North America.
On Friday the play will be shown at New York's famed Public Theater at 425 Lafayette St. I assume it's been sold out but word has it that an encore performance will be held at the Fairfield Theatre Company in Fairfield, CT on Friday, June 22.
VOICES IN CONFLICT
Created by and for students at WILTON HIGH
Directed by BONNIE DICKINSON
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Friday, June 15 at 7PM!
All tickets are FREE
Tickets available starting May 20!
All tickets must be reserved by calling 212-967-7555 or visiting The Public Theater Box Office.
ABC Good Morning America: Wilton High School play controversy
MLN is powered by