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------ Forwarded Message From: "D. H. Melhem" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 13:12:58 -0600 To: "D. H. Melhem" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: "Iraq: Speaking of War," Documentary, Benefit Iraq: Speaking of War Saturday, March 19, 8 pm, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Ave. Tickets: $10. Please Call 212-817-8215 for reservations KATHLEEN CHALFANT, GEORGE BARTENIEFF AND MORE REMEMBER TWO YEARS OF WAR IN IRAQ WITH WORLD PREMIERE OF 'IRAQ: SPEAKING OF WAR' On the eve of the 2nd Anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, New Yorkers gather to remember those who have perished NEW YORK - February 8, 2005 - A coalition of award-winning theatre artists in New York City announces today that the world premiere reading of "Iraq: Speaking of War", the documentary-style theater piece pulled from first-hand stories from the frontlines of the war of Iraq and featuring Kathleen Chalfant, George Barteneiff, Najla Said, Judith Malina and other acclaimed actors, will take place Saturday, March 19th at 8 PM at the CUNY-Graduate Center's Proshansky Auditorium, 365 Fifth Ave. Tickets for this benefit performances are $10.00 and can be purchased by calling 212-817-8215. All proceeds will go to US veteran and Iraqi civilian relief organizations. "Iraq: Speaking of War" tells the real-life story of the war through the words of the people who have lived it - from the mothers of American soldiers who've died in the crossfire, to mothers in Iraq whose husbands and children have perished in the US bombings. "Some stories were taken from articles found in American newspapers, but most of the stories have never before been heard or read by most Americans," says Karen Malpede, the Obie-Award-winning playwright who compiled and edited the text following a series of workshop performances outside St. Mark's Church in August 2004. "There's a story of a soldier who killed himself after returning from the war, another about a soldier who threw down his gun after he shot an innocent woman, and even a commander's pep talk to his troops. These stories rarely make it on the evening news." And even when they do, Malpede points out, the American public usually hears only a fraction of the story. Case in point, the siege on Falluja, a particularly bloody battle that ended with over 200,000 civilian refugees, many hundreds of civilian casualties and dozens of American military injuries. "Speaking of War" takes a worm's eye view of these events, with narratives from an Iraqi journalist for the BBC, doctors, parents, and a Red Crescent Relief worker who saw firsthand the extent of the devastation. Events in the infamous Palestine Hotel and Abu Ghraib prison are also explored in the piece. Malpede is no stranger to dramatizing difficult events of the past; her stage adaptation with George Bartenieff of Victor Klemperer's Holocaust diary "I Will Bear Witness" received two Obie Awards in 2001. That production, which premiered at Classic Stage Company, eventually transferred with great success to theatres in the UK and Germany. And she's gathered some weighty collaborators together to assist in weaving this complicated tale. She credits Palestinian-American graduate student Amneh Taye, who was in Iraq with a UN aid team during the initial invasion, with providing insightful text revisions and first-hand anecdotes. For the March 19th premiere, a ten-minute composition for harp and voices, "Litany", has been created by Milos Raickovich; percussionists Gilberto Alvarez and Johnny Faraj will also perform original music. A chorus of New York actors and vocalists will be co-directed by Alicia House, and Dalia Baisouney of CUNY. A photo montage of Iraqi civilians and mosques by Magnum photographer Ilkke Uimonnen will be featured at the end of the performance. Linda Hoaglund produces the special presentation. For more information about "Iraq: Speaking of War" or to purchase tickets, please call 212-817-8215 or go to www.IraqNamingtheDead.org. ### All press must RSVP to cover this event. To reserve please contact: Linda Hoagland 917-513-7585 [log in to unmask] ------ End of Forwarded Message