Student-Created 'Voices in Conflict' Returns in July

Voices in Conflict -- a controversial new play about the war in Iraq, created by advanced theatre students of Wilton High School, which was banned from performance by school officials -- returns by popular demand for three performances only July 11-13 at 7:00pm at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street), where the play made its New York premiere earlier this month. Performances are free and open to the public. Tickets must be reserved in advance through the The Vineyard box office, by phone or online.  Bonnie Dickinson directs.
 
Following each performance will be a Talk-Back, led by Robert Cohen, Professor and Chair for the Department of Teaching and Learning at NYU's Steinhardt School of Education.
 
Press notes state, "Created by Ms. Dickinson's class of advanced theater students at Wilton High School in Wilton, Connecticut, Voices in Conflict is based on the actual words of American soldiers serving in Iraq and Iraqi civilians, as they have appeared in blogs, books, documentaries, interviews and letters. As the concerns, anguish, pride and perception of these soldiers are articulated, Voices in Conflict explores the human dimension of war."
 
"In March of 2007, the documentary-style play made headlines, including a feature in The New York Times, when the school's principal deemed the material too controversial and cancelled the pending production. Banned from being staged, the production has since garnered international attention and support from the theater community around the world. In a show of support for the students of Wilton High School, The Vineyard and Arts Meets Commerce presented the New York premiere of this powerful work for one performance only on June 9, 2007 for a standing-room-only crowd. Subsequent single-night presentations at The Public Theater and The Culture Project followed."
 
The student creators and company of the play are Sarah Anderson, Nick Basile, Erin Clancy, Afton Fleming, Devon Fontaine, Seth Koproski, Chris Kozlowski, Natalie Kropf, Nick Lanza, Cameron Scott Nadler, Jimmy Presson, Allie Rizzo, Tara Ross, Dagan Rossini, Taylor Telyan, and Mike Ward.
 
Voices in Conflict and the Advanced Theatre Students of Wilton High School recently received the Music Theatre International Courage in Theater Award, the first such award in the 54-year history of Music Theater International.
 
The play runs July 11-13 at 7:00pm at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street). All tickets are free and must be reserved in advance through The Vineyard box office (108 East 15th Street, between Union Square East and Irving Plaza). Reserved tickets must be picked up no later than 30 minutes prior to curtain. The box office will open at 4:00pm on performance days. In the event that a performance is sold out, The Vineyard encourages people to sign up on the wait list for any available day-of tickets. 
 
For additional information about the show, please contact The Vineyard box office (Mondays-Thursdays, 1pm-6pm; and Fridays, 1pm-3pm) at 212-353-0303 or visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.
 
For additional information about Voices in Conflict, please visit www.voicesinconflict.com.