Griffin Theatre Sends LETTERS HOME to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Tonight

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza will present the Griffin Theatre Company's moving theatrical production of LETTERS HOME at the Janet & Ray Scherr Forum theatre tonight, November 8, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

This stage production was inspired by the New York Times Op-Ed Article, The Things They Wrote and the subsequent HBO documentary, Last Letters Home. The letters and correspondences, which comprise the production, have been drawn from Frank Schaeffer's books, Voices From the Front, Letters Home From America's Military Family, Faith of Our Sons, and Keeping Faith.

Without politicizing, this play puts the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan front and center by bringing to life actual letters written by troops and provides audiences with a powerful portrait of the soldier experience. The letters were written under the most difficult of circumstances; the disorientation of training, deployment, separation from family and loved ones and combat, and occupation duties in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although the title of the play implies that all the letters are from soldiers, the production chooses to include a small number of correspondences from parents because their words are no less important.

Since its original run at the Chicago Cultural Center in January 2007, the production has become one of the most sought after national touring shows and has received critical acclaim throughout the United States. To date, the production has been seen by over 50,000 people in 35 major US cities.

As the country prepares to honor the men and women who have served in the armed services on Veterans Day on November 11th, this production will help define the real purpose of day. Letters Home exemplifies patriotism and what it means to serve our country today, through acts of bravery, compassion, social responsibility, sense of community and brotherhood. Collectively the production gives a voice to a generation that went to war against terror in Afghanistan and Iraq and reveals the humanity that lies within the wars as seen through the eyes of the men and women fighting it.

Single tickets are priced at $39.00-$34.00 with group and military discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or through the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

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