Veterans Empowerment Theatre presents:
Writing From The Heart:
5 Short Stage Plays
Director: Daphne Wright
Writers: Elaine Barringer, Daphne “Dee” Wright, Sheila Christian, Gayle Ocheltree, & Herman Richardson Jr.
*Show content and language may not be suitable for children under the age of 17
Run Dates:
Nov. 8 – 10, 2019
”Soldier On” by Elaine Barringer
“Don’t Wanna Talk” by Daphne “Dee” Wright
”Five Points of Contact” by Sheila Christian
”American Booty” by Gayle Ocheltree
”UberXing” by Herman Richardson Jr.
Synopsis:
”Writing From the Heart” is a program created by Dee Wright Productions and implemented and developed in conjunction with CRE Outreach through Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET). After almost two decades of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s not surprising to hear that one of the county’s most underserved populations is the veterans’ community. While massive numbers of service members return home with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, they are not all seeking help due to the stigma about seeking mental health care.
Separation from service and the need to adapt to new societal norms lead returning service members to experience great difficulties in their newly founded lives. Veterans find meaning in community, and their sense of identity is often rediscovered in their sharing of memories and stories with their fellow service members. They find comfort in their sense of "selves" and in knowing that they too have a place in their new society.
“Writing From the Heart” brings back a sense of community to our service members. The program introduce basic writing techniques such as monologues, poems, short stories and create a project based on a timeline and goals set by the theatre through collaboration.
Program Partner:
Veterans Empowerment Theatre
Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET) is a performing arts program for military veterans that gives our nation’s brave service members a safe environment to voice their own heroic stories, personal tragedies, and experiences. VET uses theatre and creative expression as a means for participants to confront their past and encourage them on their path to overcome addiction, effectively deal with PTSD, build job skills, and reintegrate into society.
VET presents a firsthand view of the soldiers’ experiences in their most raw form, unfiltered by the press or military censorship. Productions give audiences greater insight into the difficulty facing veterans returning from deployment. Performances depict real encounters from the front lines of battle and expose the inner turmoil of the lasting scars, both external and internal endured from combat.
