November 2, 2004
Press contact: Helen Dalrymple, (202) 707-1940, hdal@loc.gov
Anneliesa Clump Behrend (202) 707-9822, aclump@loc.gov
Public contact: Monica Mohindra, (202) 707-1071, mmohi@loc.gov

THEATRICAL ADAPTATIONS OF "VOICES OF WAR" AND "THE THINGS THEY CARRIED" TO BE PERFORMED AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Produced by New York’s American Place Theatre (APT) and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, “Voices of War: A Vietnam Nurse’s Journey,” will premiere at the Library in honor of Veterans Day at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 101 Independence Ave S.E., Washington, D.C. The program is free, but reservations are requested by calling (202) 707-1071.

The live performance is adapted from the memories of a courageous Army nurse who served in Vietnam—Capt. Rhona Marie Knox Prescott. Her story is one of many featured in the new book “Voices of War,” which is published by the National Geographic in cooperation with the Library of Congress.

The Nov. 12 evening will also include a special 45-minute performance of Tim O’Brien’s Vietnam War memoir, “The Things They Carried,” first published in 1990.

Additional performances of “Voices of War” will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 22, and at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov 24, also in the Coolidge Auditorium. Learning guides for teachers are available free of charge by calling (202) 707-1071. Tickets are not required for these performances; however, reservations for groups of 10 or more are recommended.

The performances of “Voices of War” will illuminate the challenges, triumphs and sacrifices made by millions of American war veterans by using the account of one triage nurse, Prescott, who served in Vietnam from February 1967 through February 1968. Heartwarming and real, “Voices of War” honors her experience as it teaches us about the demands of war, both physical and moral. The performance is suitable for adults and high school age students.

O’Brien and Prescott will participate in a panel discussion following the Nov. 12 performance, and copies of “Voices of War” will be available for purchase and signing.

Written and directed by APT’s founding director, Wynn Handman, “Voices of War” features Annie McGreevey as Prescott and Dashiel Eaves in the role of O’Brien in “The Things They Carried.” These performances are part of APT’s innovative education program, “Literature to Life.” This nonprofit, performance-based literacy program connects students to reading and the theater through professionally staged and acted adaptations of contemporary American literature taken from current school reading lists.

Authorized by legislation passed in 2000, the Veterans History Project calls upon veterans and their families to record their stories and contribute personal documents to a growing archives at the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress. Founding sponsor AARP and hundreds of other organizations have joined the Library of Congress in this effort.

Those who are interested in becoming involved in the Veterans History Project are encouraged to e-mail the office at vohp@loc.gov to request a project information kit. The kit is also available on the Veterans History Project Web site at http://www.loc.gov/vets or by calling the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.

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PR 04-185
11-02-04
ISSN 0731-3527