Franklin Stage Company Presents Workshop With Stephan Wolfert

Franklin Stage Company will present a free workshop by veteran and actor, Stephan Wolfert, on Friday August 31, 6:30-9:30pm. Mr. Wolfert, who's critically acclaimed solo-show played to sold-out crowds last year, returns to FSC to perform Cry Havoc! Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, Sept. 2, at 5:00 pm. The Friday night workshop, geared specifically towards vets, is a special addition to his performance engagement.

In the workshop, Wolfert uses personal narrative, theater techniques, and Shakespeare's text, to help vets and others process their experiences. "We jumped at the chance to invite Stephan back," said Co-Artistic Directors Patricia Buckley and Leslie Noble. "His talk-back at last year's performance was a moving and powerful communal experience. Stephan masterfully facilitated the audiences' sharing of personal stories, and created an atmosphere of empathy and hope. We knew he'd be a brilliant teacher and are thrilled to be able to offer this special workshop."

When asked, How is Shakespeare relevant to the veteran experience?, Wolfert responds, "Shakespeare wrote about actual veterans. He wrote about the effects of war, not only on those who fight, but what it's like to come home after, and what it's like for the family. Look no further than Lady Percy's plea to her husband who is a war veteran and is being redeployed, in Henry IV, to hear the greatest description of PTSD written in the English language and yet written over four hundred years ago. Shakespeare was writing his plays at a time of not only great civil strife in the midst of a deeply divided country, but also while his country fought two separate wars overseas. Sound familiar?"

The workshop takes place at Franklin Stage Company in Chapel Hall, Friday, August 31, 6:30-9:30pm. Admission is free but requires registration. To register, please email info@franklinstagecompany.org.