Free Performances of “Ajax” to Launch Statewide Conversation about Veterans

The Pell Center uses reader’s theater to discuss veterans’ issues in honor of Veterans Day

NEWPORT, RI – The Pell Center at Salve Regina University will be hosting a reader’s theater production of the Greek tragedy “Ajax” in five cities and towns in Rhode Island. As a part of the Pell Center’s Story in the Public Square initiative, the play will serve as a vehicle for opening community conversations about the challenges facing veterans returning from war.

The production will premiere on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2014, at 7 p.m. and run for three consecutive nights at Salve Regina University in Newport. Additional productions will be staged at the following locations:

• Sunday, Nov. 16- Contemporary Theater, South Kingstown, 2 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 17- Bowab Studio Theater at Providence College, Providence, 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 18- Sandywoods Center, Tiverton, 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 20- Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland, 7 p.m.

All of the performances are free and open to the public.

Dr. Robert Hackey, a visiting fellow at the Pell Center and a professor of Health Policy and Management at Providence College, noted that “ancient Greek drama is an important tool for raising awareness of contemporary policy issues.”

“The stories we tell on stage, and the characters who tell them, can open our minds to new ways of looking at important social issues,” says Hackey. “Our production of Ajax will bring together veterans, ROTC cadets, mental health providers, and members of the larger community for a lively conversation about the emotional toll of war. By discussing the scars of battle returning soldiers endured—often through multiple deployments overseas—we seek to honor their sacrifices and open up an important dialogue about how to meet their needs.”

“Ajax” is made possible, in part, by a special grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICH), an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The grant is a part of the “Standing Together: The Humanities and the Experience of War” initiative, which supports veterans-related programming within each state.

Veterans are especially encouraged to attend and participate in the forum following each performance. To register, visit ajaxinri.eventbrite.com.