Patient and Impatient Griselda Recording + Fall Highlights!
Watch the full recording of Patient and Impatient Griselda at the Toronto International Festival of Authors.
It was a joy to collaborate with Margaret Atwood and return to the Toronto International Festival of Authors on September 30th with an exciting new project—Patient and Impatient Griselda—exploring power and control, domestic violence, and family dynamics by way of two versions of the same story, one written by Giovanni Boccaccio in 1348 during the bubonic plague and the other by Atwood in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Bocaccio’s version, a woman named Griselda remains in an abusive and controlling relationship, showing great patience and forbearance in the face of her husband’s sadism and cruelty. In Atwood’s version, Griselda takes matters in her own hands and, with the help of her sister, turns the tables on her husband.
This special event featured a live, dramatic reading of the “Patient Griselda” story from Boccaccio's Decameron by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Fleishman is in Trouble), Maev Beaty (Beau is Afraid, Mouthpiece), and Araya Mengesha (Tiny Pretty Things, Nobody). Then, in response, Margaret Atwood performed “Impatient Grisleda,” a story that is narrated to a group of humans in quarantine by an alien that looks like an octopus. The readings of both texts catalyzed a powerful discussion!
FALL RECAP
The past month has been a whirlwind for Theater of War Productions. Over the last four weeks, we presented eight events in a variety of settings, ranging from the American Museum of Natural History to FDR Four Freedoms State Park to Joint Special Operations Command and the US Naval Academy to the Toronto International Festival of Authors. Everywhere we performed, we heard profound and life-changing insights from a multitude of audiences. Below are some of the highlights.
The Oedipus Project at the American Museum of Natural History
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the American Museum of Natural History under the blue whale for The Oedipus Project in honor of Climate Week NYC on September 20th!
An enormous thank you to our cast: Oscar Isaac, Amy Ryan, Michael Stuhlbarg, David Patrick Kelly, Liza Colon-Zayas, Ato Blankson-Wood, Marjolaine Goldsmith, David Zayas, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for delivering Sophocles’ Oedipus the King with urgency and uncanny irony.
We deeply thank the panelists Daphne Frias, Eddie Bautista, Nigel Julien, and Ana L. Porzecanski for kicking off the intergenerational discussion with their gut responses to Sophocles’ play as it pertains to the climate crisis.
Finally, our sincere thanks go to President Sean Decatur and his colleagues at the American Museum of Natural History for partnering with us on this thrilling event!
Press Highlights from Theater of War: Ajax at FDR Four Freedoms State Park
"Theater of War presents 'Ajax' performance addressing wounds of war: Theater of War Productions co-founder Bryan Doerries joined 'FOX & Friends' to discuss the initiative and the importance of mental health support for America's heroes."
"'Theater of War' helping veterans heal on Fox5 A special production on Roosevelt Island uses active and former military members, along with Hollywood actors to help veterans cope with life at home."
"Theater of War, a veteran-healing performance, is coming to NYC. A profound event that connects to veterans who may be struggling with life at home is coming to Roosevelt Island Wednesday."
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Theater of War in Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park and on Zoom on September 27th!
Special thanks to cast members Ato Blankson-Wood, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Ryan, Bill Camp, Marjolaine Goldsmith, Eduardo Jany (Us Army Veteran, Col USMC (Ret.)), Latoya Lucas (Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient), and Craig Manbauman (Nurse, Poet, US Air Force Veteran).
Many thanks to our co-presenters at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park Conservancy for welcoming us back to their beautiful space.
Theater of War: Ajax, Rum and Vodka, and Tape at the United States Naval Academy
We were honored to present three projects—Theater of War: Ajax, Rum and Vodka, and Tape—in Alumni Hall at the United Naval Academy on October 13th and 14th. Our thanks go the thousands of Midshipmen who participated and offered their keen insights into the plays, engaging in powerful discussions about mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol/substance abuse, addiction, consent, and power dynamics.
Special thanks to cast members Ato Blankson-Wood, Taylor Schilling, Alex Morf, and Chris Henry Coffey.
Finally, our immense gratitude goes to CDR Jason Duff for his vision, leadership, partnership, and for bringing us back to Annapolis!