“I have never felt that I was doing more good telling a story,” said seasoned actress April Grace, who participated in the unique theater project Theater of War at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., this summer.
Theater of War is an ancient theatrical model for addressing contemporary and complex issues. Actors of film and stage read ancient Greek plays for recently returning soldiers and their families on military bases around the country.
“The audience was made up mostly of marines and soldiers, a good portion of them, getting ready to serve another tour,” Grace acknowledges somberly of her performance at Fort Leonard Wood.
The universal and timeless stories dealing with the themes of war, honor, woundedness, and collective responsibility, spark awareness and dialogue regarding the challenges faced by combat veterans today. These issues include post-deployment psychological health issues and the limitations of available resources.
The program hopes to foster greater family and troop resilience and open communication.
Founded by New York-based writer, translator, director, and educator Bryan Doerries, readings of Sophocles’s “Ajax” and “Philoctetes” have been presented to military communities across the United States since 2008.
The 8:30 a.m. curtain call reminded Grace that these two and a half hours “is not about entertainment.” She likened the event more to C-SPAN in its very direct approach. Actors sit behind a table, and all the lights are on.
Theater of War is an ancient theatrical model for addressing contemporary and complex issues. Actors of film and stage read ancient Greek plays for recently returning soldiers and their families on military bases around the country.
“The audience was made up mostly of marines and soldiers, a good portion of them, getting ready to serve another tour,” Grace acknowledges somberly of her performance at Fort Leonard Wood.
The universal and timeless stories dealing with the themes of war, honor, woundedness, and collective responsibility, spark awareness and dialogue regarding the challenges faced by combat veterans today. These issues include post-deployment psychological health issues and the limitations of available resources.
The program hopes to foster greater family and troop resilience and open communication.
Founded by New York-based writer, translator, director, and educator Bryan Doerries, readings of Sophocles’s “Ajax” and “Philoctetes” have been presented to military communities across the United States since 2008.
The 8:30 a.m. curtain call reminded Grace that these two and a half hours “is not about entertainment.” She likened the event more to C-SPAN in its very direct approach. Actors sit behind a table, and all the lights are on.
