Dillon, Hargitay, Leguizamo, et al. Lead Culture Project's 'Blueprint Series,' 4/22

Spurred by the one-year anniversary of President Obama's pronouncement to close Guantanamo, Culture Project brings its Blueprint for Accountability series to the Newseum. The event will take place April 22 at the Newseum in Washington D.C. and will feature Matt Dillon, Dr. Anna Keller, Dr. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., John Leguizamo, Jeremy Scahill, Rose Styron, Ron Suskind, Vince Warren, and Valerie Plame Wilson.

 The Blueprint for Accountability series at the Newseum will feature a stimulating panel of the world's foremost experts and artists on the issues of torture, democracy, and accountability--engaging the public in constructing a blueprint for a more just and democratic future.

A brief look at the Nuremberg Trials and Geneva Conventions will inform a probing discussion of the historical framework for America's policies limiting abuses in war, and our nation's radical departure from international human rights laws and civil liberties protections post-9/11.

In a bold new hybrid of investigative journalism and theater, Blueprint for Accountability brings together the world's leading experts in politics and journalism with the most visionary artists of our time to create an architectural plan for restoring accountability into our culture.

Culture Project was incorporated in 1996 in a piano restoration factory on West 91st street by founder and current Producing Artistic Director, Allan Buchman. In 2000, CP raised 1.2 million dollars and converted a lumberyard at 45 Bleecker Street into a two theatre performing arts center: the Main Stage (199 seats) and 45 Below (99 seats). Over the past ten years, CP has grown from a small theatre impacting 12,000 patrons annually to a small theatre impacting over 150,000 patrons annually. Over the years, Culture Project has consistently created theatre that emphasizes social and political issues designed to inform and inspire contemporary audiences. CP believes theatre is an effective agent of social change and is dedicated to fostering the creative growth of artists.

Culture Project was first propelled into national prominence by its acclaimed production of The Exonerated that focused attention on six exonerees, wrongfully imprisoned, some for decades, and then released without recognition of wrongdoing or compensation. The Exonerated was made into a movie by Court TV with Brian Dennehy, Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover and Aidan Quinn. The Exonerated was featured at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival in Summer 2005 and played to rave reviews at Riverside Studios in London in Spring 2006.

On the heels of The Exonerated's smashing success, Culture Project and Meryl Streep co-produced Bridge and Tunnel, in which Sarah Jones brilliantly described and portrayed a diverse spectrum of immigrants meeting the challenges of living in America today. Culture Project production of Bridge & Tunnel opened on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theater on January 26, 2006, and was awarded a Tony Award.

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