Red Fern Theatre Co Presents 'A Piece Of My Heart' Revival

 The Red Fern Theatre Company will present the New York revival of Shirley Lauro's A Piece of My Heart May 1 through 11, 2008 at 78th Street Theatre Lab (236 West 78th Street) and donate proceeds from the performances to the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation.  Melanie Moyer Williams directs.

Adapted from the moving, true stories featured in Keith Walker's book of the same name, A Piece of My Heart centers on a group of young military and civilian women who go to the Vietnam War.  Spanning twenty years, their true stories, songs and music call up a tumultuous era that changed them and America forever.

A Piece of My Heart premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville, where the New York Times raved, "There have been a number of plays dealing with Vietnam but none with the direct emotional impact of Ms. Lauro's work."  It opened the 20th season for Manhattan Theatre Club, receiving The Barbara Deming Prize, The Susan Blackburn Prize (finalist) and The Kittredge Foundation Award.  Since then, it's received over 1,000 productions throughout the world including Australia, Singapore, England, Ireland, Spain, Hawaii, and South Africa.   Recently it was designated by Vietnam Vets of America, Inc., as "the most enduring play in the nation on Vietnam."
 
The Red Fern Theatre Company was founded to produce socially-conscious plays while partnering with philanthropies whose missions assist those affected by issues in the play. For A Piece of My Heart, The Red Fern Theatre Company selected the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation, which continues its mission to foster recognition of the contribution of women to their nation during the Vietnam war. Its activities include initiatives to educate the public to the role of women in Vietnam and support for research that focuses on the problems faced by women as a result of their service.   For more information, visit www.vietnamwomensmemorial.org.
 
Performances of A Piece of My Heart run May 1 through 11, 2008, Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm with additional performances, Monday, May 5 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, May 11 at 8:00 pm, at the 78th Street Theatre Lab (236 West 78th Street at Broadway; Subway 1 to 79th).  Tickets are $18 at www.ovationtix.com.  A Piece of My Heart is an Equity-approved showcase.
A Piece of My Heart stars Christopher Clawson, Siho Ellsmore*, Elizabeth Flax, Catherine Gowl, Emilie Elizabeth Miller, Kendall Rileigh*, and Pheonix Vaughn.