Bill Camp, Kathryn Erbe, Maryann Plunkett, Jay O. Sanders and More Set for Veterans Week Events in NYC

Staged during Veterans Week 2017, NYC Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) Bryan Doerries and Theater of War Productions will bring together leading actors and city officials such as Council Member Jumaane Williams, Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order), Maryann Plunkett (House of Cards), Bill Camp (Jason Bourne), and Jay O. Sanders (The Good Wife) in dramatic readings of scenes from Classical Greek plays. Events are free and open to the wider public.

Each reading will be followed by moderated discussions with the audience, comprised of veterans and the wider community, to explore the impact of violence and war on individuals, families, and young people.

The three Theater of War performances are part of the 60-plus events Artistic Director Bryan Doerries is presenting across all five boroughs of New York City as part of his role as a New York City Public Artist in Residence; a joint appointment through NYC's Department of Veteran Services and Department of Cultural Affairs. The events are co-produced by the Brooklyn Public Library as part of its mission to serve as a community resource and haven for public discourse throughout Brooklyn and the City, and are supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

All events are free but seating is limited. The public is encouraged to reserve seats through www.theaterofwar.nyc or at the below links.

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Theater of War at 9/11 Memorial Museum

WHAT: With a focus on the service of veterans whose lives have been impacted by the 9/11 attacks, Theater of War Productions will present a reading of Sophocles' Ajax, which tells the story of a fierce warrior who slips into a depression and struggles with survivor's guilt.

Featuring actors Bill Camp (Jason Bourne, The Night of Light & Mercy) and Kathryn Erbe (Law and Order), and New York City Council member Jumaane Williams, the performance will set the scene for a discussion led by a panel of 9/11 first responders, veterans, and NYC citizens impacted by the attack to promote open discussion and healing. The event will be part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum's annual Salute to Service programming.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

WHERE: 9/11 Memorial Museum (180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007)

TICKETS: To reserve seats, visit www.911memorial.org/theater-war

The Tecmessa Project at Lincoln Center

WHAT: Presented in partnership with the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV), this presentation of Sophocles' Ajax, an ancient play about the visible and invisible wounds of war, focuses on the role of Tecmessa, wife of the warrior Ajax.

The dramatic reading, performed by Maryann Plunkett (The Knick, House of Cards), Jay O. Sanders (The Good Wife, Blindspot), and city council member Jumaane Williams, will convene the community through theater and a powerful conversation on the enduring impact of war on the home front. With an audience discussion co-facilitated by a representative from the OCDV, the project is designed to promote compassionate understanding and positive action.

WHEN: Thursday, November 9, 2017, 7:30 - 9:00 pm

WHERE: David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets)

TICKETS: Free, seating is on a first come, first served basis. Visit: www.lincolncenter.org/show/theater-of-war-the-tecmessa-project

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Theater of War Productions is a social impact company that uses theater as a catalyst for public conversations to help communities address pressing public health and social issues such as combat-related psychological injury, suicide, end of life care, prison reform, political violence, natural and manmade disaster, domestic violence, substance abuse, and addiction. Theater of War Productions was co-founded in 2009 by Bryan Doerries and Phyllis Kaufman, who served as Producing Director from 2009 to 2016. Doerries currently serves as the company's Artistic Director. For more information, go to www.theaterofwar.com.

Launched by the Department of Cultural Affairs in 2015, New York City's PAIR - Public Artist in Residence - is a municipal artist residency program that embeds artists in city government to propose and implement creative solutions to pressing civic challenges. PAIR artists create lasting impact by working collaboratively and in open-ended processes to build community bonds, open channels for dialogue, and create new possibilities for those who experience and participate in the work.

Doerries' two-year PAIR residency will bring theater projects and community conversations that address critical public health and social issues to all five boroughs. Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is a co-producer of the project as part of its role as a resource and advocate for civic engagement, education, artistic expression, and fostering public discourse. In partnership with the NYC Department of Veterans' Services and Department of Cultural Affairs, this city-wide project is made possible through a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs, and public computers. BPL's eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at www.bklynlibrary.org.

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City's vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City's vitality. The Department represents and serves nonprofit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City's five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs.

The New York City's Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) strives to improve the lives of all veterans and their families, regardless of discharge status. DVS acts as a centralized hub able to put veterans at the center of all our efforts. We coordinate services with a range of agencies at the city, state, and federal level, as well as through public-private partnerships.

DVS's mission is straightforward: to foster purpose-driven lives for NYC service members, veterans, and their families through: effective connections with the NYC community; targeted advocacy at the local, state, and national level; compassionate service, ensuring we make it easier to access services and benefits they've earned. We believe veterans are civic assets whose strength and demonstrated commitment to public service help NYC thrive. Learn more at www.nyc.gov/vets, on social media @nycveterans, or sign up for the newsletter.