Fountain Theater in L.A. to debut Iraq war piece -- wanna help?

[villager]

Dear Colleagues, Friends and Loved Ones,

The Fountain Theatre is opening a new anti-Iraq war piece on September 11, 2005.

We would like it to be part of a worldwide movement, protest.

We're making it available to theatres, schools, advocacy, and humanitarian organizations worldwide.

There are already plans for it at the Internationales LiteraturFestival Berlin and in New Haven, Connecticut on September 11th.

It can be done as a reading, a fundraiser, or a full-blown production.

It can be done in a room, a cabaret, a second or main stage, on an off-night or late night, or part of a theatre's season.

It can be done as a forum for discussion among colleagues or students or subscribers, or as part of any organization you belong to.

It can be done simply or elaborately.

And it doesn't have to be done just on September 11th. It can be done any time while the war continues in Iraq.

WHAT I HEARD (A Cry for 5 Voices) is an adaptation of Eliot Weinberger's article, "What I Heard About Iraq" (http://www.lrb.co.uk/v27/n03/wein01_.html ) - an eloquent, poetic, galvanizing and moving clarion call that has swept across the Internet, has already been published by Verso in the UK, and is soon to be published by New Directions in America.

The play - like the article - utilizes actual direct quotes from politicians, military chiefs, US soldiers and Iraqi citizens to reveal the unfolding human story (and human toll) behind the US invasion of Iraq, unmasking both the truth and the lies by revealing what was said, and what is being said, about our involvement in the war. This is not fiction or opinion or punditry, but fact, truth - and because of that it's extremely moving and thought-provoking.

The play, adapted/orchestrated by Simon Levy, has been designed to be performed by a multi-ethnic ensemble of 5 actors.

It can be read in 5 chairs with 5 music stands, or, as we're planning to do at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, as a fully-staged theatre piece with multi-media images and sounds interwoven into the action of the play.

Due to its unique modularity, there are actually 4 versions available:
1. a 75-minute version for Voices only
2. a 50-minute version for Voices only
3. a 75-minute version utilizing multi-media
4. a 50-minute version utilizing multi-media

We've done this in recognition that some organizations have time and production limits. And the play can be directed/presented any way the director/producer wishes.

We're happy to make available any version you feel is appropriate for your organization.

The Fountain Theatre does hold exclusive stage and radio rights to the article and these adaptations.

If you'd like to see a version or would like to discuss any of this further, please contact me at this email address or at 323-663-1542.

As Andrei Sakharov said, "If not me, then who?"

many thanks!

Simon Levy
Producing Director/Dramaturg
The Fountain Theatre
Los Angeles
www.fountaintheatre.com
www.simonlevy.com
323-663-1542