Out of Silence in Rehearsal

1/19/2015

I'm back in D.C. to attend the world premiere production of Out of Silence: Abortion Stories from the 1 in 3 Campaign. This project, which I first started working on back in June, has been such a powerful and rewarding experience. It's been such a joy to work with each of the playwrights, who have worked so hard to bring these stories to the stage. The response to our play has been overwhelmingly positive as women have had their stories shared and choices validated. We've also received such great press with more to come, so keep checking back:

How a Play Inspired by Abortion Stories Blues the Line Between Art and Activism - Elle Magazine
10 Female Playwrights Tell Real Abortion Stories - MTV Act
A 'Vagina Monologues' About Abortion Could Be Coming To A College Near You - Think Progress
“Every time I tell my story, someone else will come up and tell me theirs”: How the 1 in 3 Campaign is turning abortion stories into art - Salon
Premiering in D.C. Tomorrow: A Vagina Monologues for Abortion Stories - Washington City Paper
‘Out of Silence: Abortion Stories’ - Washington Post

After this production, the plays will be made available to the public and I'll be working with Advocates for Youth to bring the play to festivals, conferences, college and university campuses, and to regional theatres across the country. I'm heading now to attend the final dress rehearsal and share any last minute notes on the production. I'll be sure to share more photos and any new thoughts on the play. Of course, I promise to answer the interview questions as well!

If you're planning to attend tomorrow, here some information about the show:

Plan Your Visit
What: Out of Silence: Abortion Stories from the 1 in 3 Campaign
When: January 20, 2014
Reception: 5:30 p.m. | Production: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Studio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
RSVP: http://www.1in3campaign.org/outofsilence

Out of Silence: Abortion Stories from the 1 in 3 Campaign Creative Team
Playwrights: Allyson Currin, DW Gregory, Caleen Jenning, Nicole Jost, Jacqueline E. Lawton, Kristen LePine, Jennifer Nelson, Mary McKeown, Anu Yadav, and Karen Zacarias.
Director: Marie Byrd Sproul
Cast: Shayna Blass, Celeste Jones, Jon Hudson Odom, Tuyet Thi Pham, and Fatima Quander.
Designers: Jeffrey Dorfman (Sound Design), Paige Hathaway (Set/Projection Design), Sarah Kost (Lighting Design), and Brian Shaw (Costume Design)
Stage Manager: Ellen Houseknecht

Following the production co-producer Jacqueline E. Lawton, actress/playwright Anu Yadav, and playwright Nicole Jost will host a panel discussion and open Q&A based on the production. Similar to the riveting Vagina Monologues, Out of Silence will delve into the difficult situations and emotions that surround abortions from multiple point of views. The play is derived from the over 600 stories submitted to the Campaign and represent women from a wide array of situations, ages, and backgrounds. The creative team is made up of a diverse set of multi-generational, female playwrights including: Allyson Currin, DW Gregory, Caleen Jenning, Nicole Jost, Jacqueline E. Lawton, Kristen LePine, Jennifer Nelson, Mary McKeown, Anu Yadav, and Karen Zacarias. "Bringing this production to the stage has been an insightful experience both personally and professionally," says Director Marie Byrd Sproul. "These stories need to be heard, they need to be brought out for all of us to listen to and respect."

This is not a Studio Theatre production.