Marsha Norman to Pen Inaugural Play for Theatre For Humans

Theatre for Humans (www.theatreforhumans.com), an arts and entertainment Production Company dedicated to telling the poignant stories of those impacted by current global issues, today announced its soon-to-be-titled inaugural project - a powerful play that examines the challenges of women and girls in the United States and developing countries around the globe. Renowned playwright Marsha Norman, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for ‘night, Mother and the Tony Award for The Secret Garden, will bring this inspirational, Off-Broadway piece to life in New York City beginning in the spring of 2013.

"I am truly privileged to join this courageous production," said Marsha Norman. "We read these terrible stories every day in the paper and shudder. What I hope to do is create a play that investigates the ongoing violence toward women and children in the world, and searches for some kind of answer to the question, What Can We Do?"

For the first time, the United Nations Department of Public Information, through its Creative Community Outreach Initiative (CCOI), will team up with a theatrical producer. CCOI will collaborate with Theatre for Humans to explore the issues and challenges facing women and girls around the world.

The production will offer an in-depth look at our world as seen through the eyes of women from various cultures and countries and the United Nations and NGO field staff who assist them. Through music and words, audiences will be able to experience these women's remarkable stories of courage, determination and survival in a world full of inequities. The emotionally stirring narratives will be performed by a cast of professional actors alongside featured guest readers from all walks of life, including celebrities, journalists, political figures, business leaders and everyday women.

Kiyo Akasaka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said "We fully appreciate the power of the arts, and performing arts in particular, to bring experiences of suffering and hardship endured by millions of people around the world to wide-ranging audiences in other countries and continents. "Women and girls bear the brunt of the suffering when natural disasters strike, conflicts erupt or the rule of law breaks down. This project provides an opportunity for the voices of these women and girls to be heard."

Through CCOI, the producers are working with UN field offices and specialized agencies around the world to receive expert advice on the issues affecting women and girls, contacts in the region, and guidance while in the field. During the research phase of the project, Andrea Ciannavei will travel with the producers to do interviews and collect the stories that Marsha Norman will weave into the fabric of the play. The creative team will visit 10 countries throughout Asia, Africa and South America between July 12, 2011 and October 15, 2011.

This production will explore many of the issues affecting the daily lives and rights of women and girls. Issues to be considered for this play include violence against women, human trafficking, women as peacekeepers, girls in areas of conflict and women's economic and political empowerment.

Susan Blyth and Terry Merkle, Theatre for Humans founders and producers of the play, added "Partnering with the UN CCOI gives us and our playwright, Marsha Norman, the resources and contacts necessary to bring these important stories to American audiences. This project will offer audiences a variety of opportunities to engage in a broader community conversation. We hope that, by bringing awareness to these issues, it will encourage audiences to take positive action to effect change."

Theatre for Humans is engaging partners in the public and private sectors to support this important effort. They will be working with advisors and experts to build social action and multi-media engagement campaigns including New York-based firm Prosody Creative Services. This campaign will highlight Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the important role they play in bettering the lives of people worldwide. Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), has joined forces with Theatre for Humans in support of this groundbreaking production. Los Angeles-based Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory will be the official provider of the essential photographic and video equipment necessary to bring these stories to life during the research phase and life of the project.

Theatre for Humans, LLC, is an arts and entertainment Production Company with a mission to develop and support projects that highlight current US and global social issues, give voIce To those whose stories must be told and engage the public to take action. Theatre for Humans believes that one voice can make a difference, and many voices can change the world.

Founded by Terry Merkle and Susan Blyth in Los Angeles, CA, Theatre for Humans draws on their extensive background in non-profit and commercial theatre management and production in Los Angeles, New York and throughout North America. Merkle is the owner of Paradigm Shift Worldwide, a successful marketing, production and special events company in Los Angeles that specializes in creating one-of-a kind events and marketing campaigns for the major Hollywood Studios and international corporations. Blyth has been a Broadway Touring Company Manager, Development Manager for Arts and Education organizations, Associate Producer and a Marketing and Special Events Project Manager for the entertainment industry and major corporations.

Seeing a tremendous need to tell the stories of women and girls in developing countries and the United States, Merkle and Blyth were drawn to return to their theatre roots and produce an Off-Broadway theatrical production that focuses attention on the worldwide inequalities of women and girls. They believe that the time has come to bring women's issues center stage and to create a powerful piece of theatre that will not only enlighten but inspire others to take up this cause.

The Creative Community Outreach Initiative (CCOI), managed by the United Nations Department of Public Information, acts as a liaison between the United Nations and producers, directors, writers and new media professionals who wish to work with the world body to raise awareness of critical global issues. The CCOI provides a gateway to UN headquarters, field operations and specialized agencies and can offer editorial and field support for particularly high-value projects. In addition, it informs creative professionals about the activities of the UN and its priority issues: peace and security, economic and social development, human rights and climate change.

To post a comment, you must register and login.