ReEntry

CENTERSTAGE inspires conversation

and action with Act Two
By Lily Brown, Public Relations Intern

T
he people to your Co-authors Emily Ackerman
left or right may be and KJ Sanchez chose theater
mothers or fathers, as their medium with a clear
accountants or intention in mind. “When
artists, long-time or first- these stories are experienced
time theatergoers, or any in a theater with others, and
of a number of diverse particularly when you are
backgrounds that make up sitting shoulder-to-shoulder
the ReEntry audience. You may with a combat Veteran, you
also be sharing an armrest see and hear them in a very
with an active or retired different way,” Sanchez says.
member of the military. ReEntry helps bridge the gap
between civilian and military,
Bringing so many different types of people into one room to first and foremost by simply bringing people from both walks of
witness a challenging piece of theater is sure to result in interesting life into the theater, where some may never have been. Whether or
and varied responses, and we want to hear them. During the not they had anything in common before they sat down, they leave
production’s time at CENTERSTAGE, the theater will work with with new perspectives of a shared experience.
many organizations to provide resources, support, context, and
opportunities for audience members to get involved. This effort ReEntry is also unusual because its stories are built directly from
is part of Act Two; an outlet for the second half of the experience interviews between the playwrights and Marines, their families,
of viewing ReEntry—your reaction. The theater experience you and others. Such authenticity of subject opens the door for a
receive at CENTERSTAGE is not one of passive viewing. Audience conversation between civilians and service members about going
members are invited, encouraged, and expected to take part to, and coming home from, war—an issue often overlooked in
in sharing their own stories and their constructive reactions our society because most Americans do not directly deal with
to ReEntry. the devastating realities of war on a daily basis. But for many

ReEntry is also unusual because its stories are built directly

from interviews between the playwrights and Marines,
their families, and others.
8 | CENTERSTAGE
 Focus On :
Community Outreach

Teacher Resources
For more information on:
»» In-class visits

When these stories are experienced in

»» Our annual Young Playwrights Festival
»» Encounter after-school arts program for

a theater with others, and particularly

students
»» Teacher training, service learning,
workshops & residencies
when you are sitting shoulder-to- »» Curriculum coordination

shoulder with a combat Veteran, you see call Community Programs &
Education at 410.986.4050 or email

and hear them in a very different way.

education@centerstage.org.

To purchase tickets for Student Matinees

or school groups, contact Group Sales
—­K J Sanchez at 410.986.4008 or email
groups@centerstage.org
service members and their families, has since dedicated much of his time to To arrange a backstage tour, contact
the experience of war or having a loved supporting and healing Veterans coming Mandy Benedix at 410.986.4011 or
one go to war is all too real, and doesn’t home from war. Day says of the issue temail mbenedix@centerstage.org.
disappear upon coming home. central to ReEntry, “you discover that you
are a different person than the one who
To help with this transition, many left, and the world you left is no longer
national and local organizations provide there to return to.” This disparity, and
support for Veterans and active service misunderstandings about it, is one of the
members. Several organizations are chasms the production hopes to fill. Support for educational programming
making advances towards the diagnosis at CENTERSTAGE is provided by:
and treatment of war-related illnesses. ReEntry offers a window into an often
Corporations The Hecht-Levi
Others provide tangible support for untold truth about the experience Foundation, Inc.
Legg Mason
physically and mentally wounded service of service men and women. It is an The Macht Philanthropic
M&T Bank Fund
members through a variety of programs. incredible example of what theater can
Mercy Medical Center The Joseph & Harvey
Emphasis is placed not only on treating do, and what we hope to help it do at Meyerhoff Family
Procter & Gamble
wounds but also on preventing them CENTERSTAGE. It provides a constructive, Cosmetics Foundation Charitable Funds
The Jim & Patty Rouse
by preparing soldiers and their families safe environment for discussion that Sylvan/Laureate
Charitable
Foundation
for what they will face during and after otherwise might not occur. It peels away Foundation
T. Rowe Price Associates
deployment. the layers of misunderstanding until Foundation, Inc. VSA arts and
MetLife Foundation
people who once had a great chasm Target
Several support organizations will work between them can begin to communicate Wachovia Government
with CENTERSTAGE for Act Two of ReEntry, with one another. For civilians, ReEntry Verizon Maryland State Arts
Council
providing resource materials and other offers a path to understanding and The Baltimore Office
guidance, and helping lead nightly talk- Foundations &
avenues for action. For those serving, of Promotion and
backs ranging from informal discussions Individuals The Arts/Creative
Sanchez hopes “it lets them know they’re James and Janet Clauson
Baltimore Fund
to panels and presentations. For instance, not alone.” CENTERSTAGE challenges Baltimore County
The William G. Baker, Jr. Executive,
Jackson Day, Executive Director of the you to get involved by using Act Two to Memorial Fund County Council,&
International Conference of War Veteran express your reaction, whether at a post- The Jacob and Hilde Commission on Arts
Blaustein and Sciences.
Ministers, is working with CENTERSTAGE show talk-back or in an online forum, Foundation, Inc. Carroll County
to lead some of these talk-backs. Day and to make your theater experience an The Helen P. Denit Government
was a chaplain in the Vietnam War and Charitable Trust Howard County Arts
active one. ✫ Council through a
The Goldsmith Family
Foundation grant from Howard
County Government

ReEntry | 9