Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 19, 2015
Lean & Hungry Theater’s next production, an abridged version of Shakespeare’s Othello, will be presented in partnership with the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore (USO-Metro). The production will focus on the impact of war and post-traumatic stress on individual military service members, as seen in the actions of several characters in the play. A portion of the proceeds from the play will benefit USO-Metro.
The live production, a co-production with WSC-Avant Bard, which recently presented an acclaimed stage version of the play, will take place on March 22nd at ArtiSphere at Rosslyn Metro. The evening will begin with a 5pm pop-up art show, featuring veterans’ art from the 296 Project, the live radio recording at 6pm, and a panel discussion on veterans’ issues and art therapy at 7pm, moderated by WAMU 88.5’s Kojo Nnamdi. The discussion will feature Ashy Palliparambil, Art and Music Program Specialist at the USO Warrior and Family Centers, Dr. Scott Gordon, Executive Director of The 296 Project, and Tom Prewitt, Artistic Director at WSC-Avant Bard, who conceived the production.
“The meaningful work of organizations like Lean & Hungry goes a long way to educating the community about the challenges our nation’s troops and veterans are facing,” states Elaine Rogers, CEO and President of USO-Metro. “We’re honored to be a part of this unique production and we’re looking forward to the panel discussion.”
“The issues faced by soldiers in Shakespeare’s time bear such similarity to those our contemporary soldiers and veterans face today,” states Lean & Hungry Theater’s Artistic Director, Jessica Hansen. “These are deeply human issues and it is important and relevant to explore how our community is immediately impacted by them today.”
The production will be broadcast on WFED Radio on April 4 and 11, at 11:00 am, and the panel discussion will be available to stream at http://www.leanandhungrytheater.org. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.LeanAndHungryTheater.com. Discount tickets available for students, military, and seniors. For sponsorship information, contact Patricia Davis-Muffett at triciadm(at)gmail(dot)com.
About Lean & Hungry Theater
Lean & Hungry Theater creates one-hour audio adaptations of literature classics, drawn from national reading lists for middle- and high-school classrooms. These audio productions are broadcast on NPR stations nationwide and MP3 downloads are available for purchase. Lean & Hungry Theater produces companion study guides to support classroom curricula for these classic books and plays. Lean & Hungry Theater is endorsed by the National Federation of The Blind and The Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. Learn more at LeanAndHungryTheater.org.
About USO-Metro
USO-Metro is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress, and dedicated to "serving those who serve, and their families" in Washington D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. It is through the generous financial support of individuals and organizations in the local community that USO-Metro is able to fulfill its mission. With the help of thousands of devoted volunteers, USO-Metro provides programs and services for active duty troops and their families at area military hospitals, six USO Centers, four USO airport lounges and a Mobile USO. Signature programs and services include holiday programs like Turkeys for Troops and Project USO Elf, emergency housing and food assistance, and caring for our wounded, ill and injured troops and their caregivers.
About WSC Avant Bard
Founded in 1990, WSC Avant Bard is a performing arts organization dedicated to producing classic works (both time-tested and contemporary), emphasizing a bold approach in an intimate setting that showcases the best emerging and established talent in the region.
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