Little Theatre of Manchester and GMChorale to Present Screening of Emmy Award-Winning Documentary

The 2016 Emmy Award-winning documentary narrated by Meryl Streep, Letter from Italy, 1944: A New American Oratorio, will be screened at the Little Theater of Manchester at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Rd, Manchester on Sunday, March 12, at 3 p.m. The screening of the documentary, produced by filmmaker Karyl Evans, is free and open to the public.

The documentary follows the creation and production of the moving and powerful oratorio, Letter from Italy, 1944, commissioned by GMChorale and composed and written by Sarah Meneely-Kyder and Nancy Fitz-Hugh Meneely. The oratorio is based on the true story of their father, Dr. John K. Meneely, a WWII combat medic in the Army's 10th Mountain Division, who returned from war suffering from what we now call PTSD. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the composer and the librettist.

Letter from Italy, 1944, a story of both struggle and hope, demonstrates the power of the arts to offer a bridge toward understanding and addressing our veterans' struggles with PTSD. In the words of Karyl Evans, "It is such an important story to tell - a war veteran coming back with post-traumatic stress disorder, how his relationship with his family is changed forever and then his daughters creating a work of art 50 years later that not only healed their hearts, but the hearts of everyone involved..."

This event is the third in a series of nine Community Conversations prior to the Hartford Premiere of Letter from Italy, 1944, to be presented by The Combined voices of GMChorale and Hartford Chorale, with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, at The Bushnell on Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m.

Admission for the March 12 screening of Letter from Italy, 1944: A New American Oratorio at Cheney Hall is free; tickets or reservations are NOT needed. GMChorale is working with veterans' organizations to offer complimentary tickets to the Thursday, May 4 concert at The Bushnell, and a good-will offering to support this initiative will be accepted at the March 12 screening.

For further information, visit www.gmchorale.org.

About Little Theatre of Manchester

The Little Theatre of Manchester (LTM) was founded in 1960 with the purpose of producing community theater. Since its inception, LTM's volunteers have put on more than 650 quality performances that have been well-received and applauded by various members of the community. In the 1980s, the Little Theatre worked with the Town of Manchester in restoring Cheney Hall. In 1991, the extensive, award-winning restoration was completed and the state's oldest operating theater became the theatrical residence of the Little Theatre of Manchester. Today, programming is comprised of five main-stage theatre productions, numerous concerts, special events, and a range of other cultural, business, civic, and private functions. The Little Theatre is proud to serve a growing, annual audience of approximately 10,000, If you would like to connect with us and find out more, please visit us at www.littletheatreof manchester.org and you can find us on Facebook @LittleTheatreManchester to stay updated with all our events.

About GMChorale

Established in 1977 as a community chorus in Middletown, CT, the GMChorale has evolved to become one of New England's finest and most engaging choruses. It is acclaimed for its innovative symphonic choral presentations, and often performs with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Under the inspired leadership of Artistic Director Joseph D'Eugenio, the chorale performs beloved masterworks and newly commissioned pieces.