Cast and Panelists Announced for THEATER OF WAR

Cast and panelists have been announced for the November 13 and 14 performances of Theater of War, the free public health project featuring a staged reading of Sophocles' Ajax performing over Veterans' Weekend. The performance will be followed by town hall discussions with the audience led by military veterans, their family members, and mental health professionals. This celebrated program, which has been presented more than 175 times across the United States, Europe, and Japan, is presented by Theater of War Productions in collaboration with American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) and in association with University of San Francisco (USF). Translated by Theater of War Productions Artistic Director Bryan Doerries and produced by Phyllis Kaufman, the play is directed by A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. The free presentations are on Sunday, November 13, 2011, at 7 p.m., and Monday, November 14, 2011, at 7 p.m., at University of San Francisco's Presentation Theater (2350 Turk Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94117). Reservations are recommended. To make a reservation, please contact the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or act-sf.org.

The cast for the reading includes A.C.T. Associate Artist and Lorraine Hansberry Theatre Artistic Director Steven Anthony Jones as Ajax and Agamemnon. Joining Jones are A.C.T. M.F.A. Program graduate Timothy Hull, who spent six years with the Army (including 16 months in Iraq) after graduating from A.C.T., in the role of the Chorus; A.C.T. core Acting Company members René Augesen as Athena and Omozé Idehenre as Tecmessa; and A.C.T. M.F.A. Program students Nick Steen as Odysseus and Tyee J. Tilghman as Teucer.

The November 13 panel discussion will be moderated by Doerries and will feature Susan Karpenko, LCSW, CGP (Outpatient Clinical Social Worker, Substance Abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, San Francisco), Mordechai (Moti) Sorkin (former U.S. Army Ranger Battalion officer and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan), and Hull. Perloff will make introductory remarks.

The November 14 panel discussion will be moderated by USF Associate Professor Roberto Gutiérrez Varea and will feature John A. Straznickas, M.D. (UCSF Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Team Leader, Substance Use and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Team, San Francisco VA Medical Center); Justin, Shayna, and Lily Raphael (former U.S. Army Captain, Paratrooper, and Ranger and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with his family), and Hull. University of San Francisco President Reverend Stephen A. Privett, S.J. will make introductory remarks.
Theater of War Productions, supported by a generous grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in collaboration with the USO, is partnering with prominent theaters across the United States to present Theater of War for mixed audiences comprised of military service men and women and civilians. Theater of War is an innovative public health project that presents readings of ancient Greek plays, Sophocles' Ajax and Philoctetes, as a catalyst for town hall discussions about the challenges faced by service men and women, veterans, and their families, caregivers, and communities. Using Sophocles' plays to forge a common vocabulary for openly discussing the impact of war on individuals, families, and communities, these events are aimed at generating compassion and understanding among diverse audiences. Each evening is approximately two hours long. The readings from the plays are followed by comments from a panel that features a diverse group of military community members, as well as a town hall-style audience discussion.

Theater of War Productions has presented more than 175 performances of Sophocles' Ajax and Philoctetes for military audiences throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. The plays have been performed at military sites as diverse as the Pentagon, Guantanamo Bay, Army posts throughout Germany, VA Hospitals, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, homeless shelters, high school auditoriums, theaters, and churches. Audiences have included service members and veterans from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Special Forces, National Guard, and Reserves, as well as high-ranking officials from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Each reading has been followed by a town hall-style audience discussion, which has been facilitated with the help of military community members. These have been arresting, emotionally charged events, in which service members have spoken openly about their experiences in combat and at home. To date, nearly 35,000 service members, veterans, and their families have attended and participated in Theater of War performances and discussions.

These performances of Theater of War are made possible by the generous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in collaboration with the USO.

About Theater of War Productions
Theater of War presents readings of Sophocles' Ajax and Philoctetes to military and civilian communities across the United States and Europe. These ancient plays timelessly and universally depict the psychological and physical wounds inflicted upon warriors by war. By presenting these plays to military and civilian audiences, our hope is to destigmatize psychological injury, increase awareness of post-deployment psychological health issues, disseminate information regarding available resources, and foster greater family, community, and troop resilience. To date, Theater of War Productions has delivered over 175 performances for military and civilian communities across the United States and Europe. Over 35,000 service members, veterans, and their families have attended and participated in Theater of War performances and discussions to date. Visit Theater of War's website, www.outsidethewirellc.com, to find more information about the project, watch a short video of a performance, and find out about recent and upcoming performances. You can also find Theater of War on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheaterofWar

About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.SNF.org) is one of the world's leading international philanthropic organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and medicine, and social welfare. While prominent in its support of Greek-related initiatives, the Foundation's activities are worldwide in scope. To date, the Foundation has provided total grant commitments of Euro €895 million/U.S. $1.2 billion through more than 1,900 grants to nonprofit organizations in 90 nations around the world.
Having started its grant-making activities following Stavros Niarchos's death in 1996, the Foundation adheres in its mission to his global legacy, Greek heritage, and interest in providing underserved populations with access to opportunity. With offices in New York City, Athens, and Monte Carlo, the Foundation funds institutions and projects that exhibit strong leadership and sound management and that have the potential to achieve a broad and lasting impact.
Among other projects, the Foundation has committed to building the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens, which will include new edifices for the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera, as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park-all designed by internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano. The project's cost is estimated at Euro €566 million/U.S. $750 million, making it one of the largest individual gifts ever made by a foundation.

About the USO
The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. The USO provides a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top-quality entertainment, and innovative programs and services. It also provides critical support to those who need it most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families, and the families of the fallen. The USO is a private nonprofit organization, not a government agency, and relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and other corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners: American Airlines, AT&T, BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, LockheEd Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. It is also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join in this patriotic mission and to learn more about the USO, please visit www.uso.org.

About American Conservatory Theater
American Conservatory Theater is a Tony Award-winning theater and educational institution dedicated to nurturing the art of live theater through Dynamic Productions, intensive actor training in its conservatory, and an ongoing engagement with its community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Carey Perloff and Executive Director Ellen Richard, A.C.T. embraces its responsibility to conserve, renew, and reinvent its relationship to the rich theatrical traditions and literatures that are our collective legacy, while exploring new artistic forms and new communities. A commitment to the highest standards informs every aspect of A.C.T.'s creative work.
Founded in 1965, A.C.T. opened its first San Francisco season at the historic Geary Theater in 1967. More than 320 A.C.T. productions have since been performed to a combined audience of more than seven million people; today, A.C.T.'s performance, education, and outreach programs annually reach more than 230,000 people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The conservatory, which serves 3,000 students annually, has moved to the forefront of America's actor training programs, while serving as the creative engine of the company at large. Today A.C.T. is recognized for its groundbreaking productions of classical works and bold explorations of contemporary playwriting.

About the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco is in the heart of one of the most innovative and diverse cities and features a vibrant community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields while building a more humane and just world. University of San Francisco students, faculty, and alumni are involved in the entrepreneurial city of San Francisco and work in all industries, from technology to nonprofits. With dedicated professors and exceptional academic programs to choose from, the university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the knowledge and skills needed to develop into ethical leaders who are sought after in their professions. University of San Francisco's diverse student body benefits from direct access to faculty, small class sizes, and a broad array of programs and co-curricular opportunities. Informed by the university's 156-year-old Jesuit Catholic mission, the University of San Francisco community ignites students' passion for social justice and the pursuit of The Common good. For more information about the University of San Francisco, please visit www.usfca.edu.

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