Letters Home comes to UCM

The award-winning Griffin Theatre Company brings its critically acclaimed production “Letters Home” to the University of Central Missouri at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Hendricks Hall.

Inspired by the New York Times article “The Things They Wrote” and the HBO documentary “Last Letters Home,” the play, without politicizing, puts the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq front and center by bringing to life actual letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East.  The photos and videos projected behind the actors as they perform are taken directly from actual soldiers’ blogs and websites such as Myspace and Facebook.

These letters were written under the most difficult of circumstances, including the disorientation of training, deployment, combat and separation from family. One theme seems to unite their diverse voices–the belief that the person standing beside you is more important than you are.  The audience is exposed to the humanity within the war as seen through the eyes and patriotism of the brave men and women who serve the United States today.

“Letters Home” has been called “extraordinary, deeply moving” by the Chicago Sun Times and was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding New Play.

Tickets are available from the PAS box office in Administration 100, online at ucmpas.com, by calling 660-543-8888, or one hour prior to performance at Hendricks Hall. Military discounts are available.

This event is sponsored by the UCM Office of Military and Veteran Services. Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.