A PIECE OF MY HEART Examines War and Women at the Annie Russell

The Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College continues its 84th season with A Piece of My Heart, a drama based on the true stories of six women who served in Vietnam. Called "the most enduring play on Vietnam in the nation" by the Vietnam Veterans Association, this powerful piece portrays the lives of Army and Navy nurses, an enlisted intelligence specialist in the Women's Army Corps, a Red Cross volunteer, and a U.S.O. singer before, during, and after their deployment. Featuring the unforgettable music of the era, the play is a breathtaking examination of the far-reaching costs of war.

Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy spoke at Rollins alongside visiting scholar Dr. Tuan Hoang at the end of January to prepare audiences for the production. Representative Murphy and Dr. Hoang shared their common journey of emigration to America from South Vietnam in the early 1970s. They boarded small boats alongside their families and other refugees. "We had the clothes on our back," shared Murphy, "and whatever items [my mother] could sew into the hem of our clothing."

A Piece of My Heart, written by Shirley Lauro and directed by Dr. Marianne DiQuattro, opens on February 17th and runs through Febryary 25th. Tickets are $20, with discounts available for veterans, students, and seniors. A ticket to opening night includes admission to a reception immediately following the show - butlered champagne service, live music, and authentic Vietnamese cuisine from iPho Noodle House. More information on the Annie Russell Theatre's upcoming production of A Piece of My Heart may be found at www.rollins.edu/annie. For more information on the Department of Theatre and Dance at Rollins College, please visit www.rollins.edu/theatredance.