History Theatre's THE THINGS THEY CARRIED and LONELY SOLDIERS to Run Through 4/6

History Theatre's March repertoire puts two plays on stage which explore the experiences of soldiers during and after two of America's most recent wars. The Things They Carried by Worthington native Tim O'Brien in the award winning novel about the Vietnam War seen through the eyes of an American soldier. It is being adapted for the stage by local storyteller Jim Stowell and performed as a one-man show by Stephen D'Ambrose, directed by Leah Cooper.

The role of women in America's military and their treatment both on the battlefield and in the barracks has been growing and coming under more public scrutiny through the media, congressional hearings, political debates, and talk-shows. Helen Benedict, author of Lonely Soldiers: Women at War in Iraq, interviewed and compiled the stories of eight women soldiers who had served on the frontlines during the early years of the Iraq War. Benedict has adapted her book for the stage in a powerful and poignant play that will receive its regional premiere at History Theatre under the direction of Austene Van.

The two plays will be performed on an alternating schedule using a shared set designed for quick change over. Both productions share an artistic team made up of scenic designer by Sarah Brander, lighting designer Wu Chen Khoo, sound designer Martin Guinup, and costume designer Annie Cady.

Content warning: Both shows include descriptions of violent events, sexual harassment, and abuse; they are recommended for ages 16 and up.

Helen Benedict was born in London, England, to anthropologist parents that informed her journalism and novels. She grew up in London and Ca lifornia. She attended University in England and the
U.S. In 1981, she moved to New York to be a freelance wrti ter. Helen is a professor of journalism at Columbia
University and the author of six novels and five nonfiction books. In 2011, she published the novel Sand Queen (Soho Press), about two women fighting on opposite sides of the Iraq War. She published the nonfiction book on which this play is based, The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq, in 2009. For more information on Helen and her work, visit www.helenbenedict.com.

Tim O'Brien was born in Austin, Minnesota and spent his childhood in Worthington, Minn. He was drafted for military service in 1968, two weeks after completing his undergraduate degree in Government and Politics at
Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served a 13-month tour as a regular foot soldier and radio
telephone operator. He was wounded twice while in service, and ultimately rose to the rank of Sergeant. After returning from his tour in March 1970, he resumed his schooling and began graduate work in government
and political science at Harvard University. After Harvard, he went to work briefly for The Washington Post
as a national affairs reporter before his attention was fully devoted to writing. He began and continues to publish
regularly in various periodicals, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Esquire, and Playboy, frequently excerpting parts of his novels as autonomous short stories.

The Things They Carried opens Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 8:00 p.m and closes Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. There will be an Audio Described and ASL interpreted performance on 03/23/14 at 2:00 p.m.

Lonely Soldiers: Women at War in Iraq opens Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. and closes Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. There will be an Audio Described and ASL interpreted performance on 03/29/14 at 2:00 p.m.

Performances for both productions run Tuesdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays at 2 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tier 1 tickets are $40; Tier 2 tickets are $36; Tier 3 tickets are $32. Seniors (60+ years old) get $2 off. Student tickets are $15. Discount rates are available for groups of 12 or more. For more information visit History Theatre's website or call 651.292.4323.

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