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02.11.08

Contacts: Arts at Emory, Jessica Moore, jkmoore@emory.edu
Theater Emory, Hunter Hanger, 404-712-9118, hhanger@emory.edu

Release written by John Casavant

“What I Heard About Iraq” is a Provocative Exposé of Our Time Presented by Theater Emory

Theater Emory continues its five-play, season-long focus on war with Simon Levy’s “What I Heard About Iraq” (Feb. 14-29, 2008), a multimedia production in which documented statements and fully verifiable facts concerning the war in Iraq form a compelling, disturbing narrative about the march to war and the continued occupation. Michael Evenden, director of this production, describes it as being unique in its immediacy: “We are at war and this unusual theater piece lets us address our present situation as no other play could…written as an updatable script, the piece can change as our current situation does.”

Levy adapted this play from the London Review of Books article “What I Heard About Iraq” by Eliot Weinberger in which Weinberger presents a series of quotes and statements ranging from “I heard the Red Cross say that casualties in Baghdad were so high that the hospitals had stopped counting” to “I heard Donald Rumsfeld say: ‘It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.’” Levy describes the piece as theatricalization with media clips of the article. The play can serve to keep the current war at the forefront of the theatergoers mind through its scenes, as well as photographs of war-torn Iraq and video of elected officials, eyewitnesses of the war, Iraqi citizens and military are among those featured. The cast is composed of Emory students, including Leigh Clemmons, Rebekah Cordeiro, Asad Farooqui, Arjun Khurana, Katy Marklein, Ashley Schindler, Tammy Syed and Paul Syers.

Performances are in the Schwartz Center’s Theater Lab, 1700 N. Decatur Road, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, 20, 22, 26 and 29, at 10 p.m. on Feb. 15, and at 6 p.m. on Feb. 18 (tickets are $15, discount category members $12). For tickets and information, the public can call 404-727-5050 or visit www.arts.emory.edu.

Performance parking is available in Peavine and Fishburne Visitor parking decks. For Theater Emory information, visit www.theater.emory.edu.

PLEASE NOTE: “What I Heard About Iraq” contains adult themes and graphic images.

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NOTE: Digital photos are available upon request

THEATER EMORY

Theater Emory is the producing organization of Emory University and is affiliated with the Department of Theater Studies. It is a member of the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts and operates under a season agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

ARTS AT EMORY MISSION

Emory University provides a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment for the study, creation and presentation of the arts.

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