'IN OUR OWN VOICE' Set for Planet Connections Theatre Festivity

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity will present In Our Own Voice: Women Veterans Tell Their Story, where the toughest job can be coming home. Written by Beverly Coyle, directed by Colleen Britton and produced by Mary Ragan, In Our Own Voice will be performed on Wednesday, June 24th at 4:30pm, Monday, June 29th at 5pm, Thursday, July 2nd at 8:45pm, Friday, July 3rd at 6pm, Thursday, July 9th at 8pm and Saturday, July 11th at 1:45pm in the Downstairs Theater at The Paradise Factory, located at 64 East 4th Street (between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery), as part of the 2015 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity.

With reasons for enlisting as varied as the enlistees themselves, In Our Own Voice follows more than two dozen women and the obstacles they face once they decided to put on the uniform. Challenges came not only in combat, but also in trying to earn respect from a military that's male dominated and where almost everything is tinged with sexual innuendo. Yet when the bombs stop falling and the smoke finally clears, the greatest challenge still awaits: returning to a country where most people really don't want to know what happens in war, and where their own family members don't want to accept that their daughters, moms & sisters had anything to do with actually killing people.

In Our Own Voice features Cailin Kess, Sionain Kuhner, Eirinn McGuinness and Katrina Perkins, each playing the roles of multiple women vets, while also taking on the roles of parents, extended family, friends and acquaintances. Costume Design is by Colleen Britton and Lighting/Sound Design by Thomas J. Bellezza. Project Manager is Mary Ragan. The running time of the show is one hour.

Beverly Coyle is the author of In Troubled Waters, both a New York Times Notable Book and an American Library Association's Ten Best Novels of the Year Selection (1994). Her novel The Kneeling Bus is taught at many universities and was Tampa University's selection for the entering class of 2001. Coyle is Professor Emeritus at Vassar College and was also named visiting professor at Yale University, Yale Divinity School. Her play The Smoking Gun was produced as part of New York University's TISCH Summer Play Festival (2009) under the direction of Drew Barr, director of War Horse in Amsterdam and Adelaide. Beverly's play Parallel Live premiered at American Stage Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida and is scheduled to run at Orlando's Performing Art Center during 2015-2016. Coyle writes that "the unfolding of In Our Own Voice catches people off guard. This material causes a rare coming together of sympathy and insight between civilian and military audience members, almost all politics aside."

Colleen Britton has had a lifetime in regional theatre, both as actor and director, and notes "But I'm a fulltime clinical social worker at Northport Veterans Hospital (on Long Island). A year ago I was shown this play and asked to direct a workshop performance for my staff and clients. The impact of this show on everyone was so powerful that we're now using grant funds to refurbish our theater space in order to offer In Our Own Voice annually. I'm thrilled be directing for Planet Connections in New York City. This is a must-see."

Mary Ragan is project manager for In Our Own Voice. She is a licensed clinical social worker and area director at the Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute where she works as a clinician and supervisor. She is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University School of Social Work and Hebrew Union College. Her consulting work and teaching has brought her to Bolivia, Guatemala and Venezuela. She has experience doing trauma work after 9/11 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and, more recently, with those affected by war.

A portion of the proceeds from In Our Own Voice will benefit Women for Women International. Since 1993, this organization has helped nearly 420,000 marginalized women in countries affected by war and conflict. They directly work with women in eight countries offering support, tools, and access to life-changing skills to move from crisis and poverty to stability and economic self-sufficiency. Recognized for their global impact, Women for Women International was honored with the prestigious Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 2006. For more information, go to www.womenforwomen.org.

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York's premiere socially-conscious theatre, music and film festival. The entire festival is aligned to help artist shine a light on the issues facing our society and support the organizations working to make a difference. The 2015 Theatre Festivity will run from June 15-July 12 at the Paradise Factory (located at 64 East 4th Street between the Bowery and 2nd Avenue), and will also play host to special events at various locations in New York City's East Village. For more information on Planet Connections, visit: www.planetconnections.org.

All tickets for In Our Own Voice are $18.00. Tickets can be purchased at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/946349 or by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111. Tickes for all 2015 Planet Connections Festivity shows are available at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/27385.

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