Medal of Honor Rag Receives Workshop Through Oct. 10

By: BWW News Desk Oct. 05, 2005

The Barrow Group (2005 Drama Desk nomination for David Edgar's Pentecost) and Theatre at St. Mary's, a community outreach theatre company based in Harlem, have joined forces to present a workshop presentation revival of Medal of Honor Rag by Tom Cole. Currently running, it will play through October 10 at The Barrow Group's Studio Theatre (312 W. 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Aves.)

The production is directed by Jacob Garrett White and stars K. Lorrel Manning, Martin Van Treuren and Marc Jones. The closing night gala, October 10, will feature a talkback discussion with noted author Kenneth J. Campbell.

Based on a true story, Medal of Honor Rag details the relationship between a psychiatrist and one of his patients, a troubled Vietnam veteran. Dale "DJ" Jackson has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery in Vietnam. Yet upon returning to the States, his life is soon forced into a downward spiral of depravity and depression. He eventually winds up at Valley Forge Hospital where he plows his way through several incompetent psychiatrists until finally meeting his match with a New York City-based doctor who, in one difficult session, forces him to face his demons. In the course of this first session, DJ's story, both of Vietnam and his homecoming, unfolds, and the audience is allowed to witness the ramifications of a country that throws its young into a chaotic whirlpool and leaves them to fend for themselves upon returning home.

Professor and author Campbell enlisted in the US Marine Corps, and became a decorated officer. He received an honorable discharge from the Marines in 1970 and soon after joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, serving as local and regional coordinator. His publications include the book, Genocide and the Global Village (Palgrave, 2001) as well as book chapters on genocide and war crimes in the Encyclopedia of Government and Politics, 2nd ed. (Routledge, 2004), Genocide: A Critical Bibliographical Review, 6th ed. (Transaction, forthcoming), and Give Peace a Chance: Exploring the Vietnam Antiwar Movement (Syracuse University Press, 1992). He has published articles on genocide, humanitarian intervention, national security strategy, and the Powell Doctrine in scholarly journals such as Civil Wars, Armed Forces & Society, the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and Human Rights Review. His current research is focused on comparative quagmires: Iraq and Vietnam.

"The Barrow Group is a non-profit theatre organization that serves as an artistic home for some of New York's finest actors, directors, playwrights, and designers. Past productions have included the aforementioned Pentecost by David Edgar, Old Wicked Songs by Jon Marans (Pulitzer Prize nomination), Lonely Planet by Steven Dietz, Sonnets for an Old Century by Jose Rivera, and The Tricky Part (2004 Obie Award) by Martin Moran," according to press notes.

"St. Mary's Episcopal Church has served Harlem and its surrounding communities since 1823. Over the years, St. Mary's has become an invaluable part of the community, offering a variety of outreach services to the people of Harlem, specifically the homeless and those with HIV. Theatre at St. Mary's mission is to produce professional quality theatre that is both multi-racial and socially conscious at extremely affordable prices."

Medal of Honor Rag continues its run on October 7, 8, 9, & 10 at 8pm and October 9 at 2pm. Tickets are $15, and tickets for the October 10 performance are $25. Please call Smarttix at 868-4444 for reservations and purchase.

Videos

Email:
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Medal of Honor Rag Receives Workshop Through Oct. 10

LATEST NEWS