November 10 - 19, 2006
$5 Preview Thurs, Nov 9th - 8pm
Fri & Sat at 8pm, Sun at 7pm
$15 General Admission
$12 Students/Seniors w/ID

Photos by Darcy Lythgoe

“This show is a project that was conceived by members of The Hunger Artists Theater Company. The Women and War project started in October 2005 because we weren't really aware of what was happening in Iraq as well as what was happening to those who have close friends or family there.”
     John, Interviewer
 
“The women we interviewed come from a variety of backgrounds from recruits and soldiers, to girlfriends, wives, and mothers across the USA.”
     Olivia, Interviewer
 
“I remember once when I asked my grandmother for her advice...she told me to join the Marines. When I told her that the Marines are 'hardcore,' she looked me square in the eye and said, ‘Chelsea, you're hardcore.’”
      Chelsea, Military Recruit

“It’s weird to me to think somebody that I’ve known since I’m fifteen years old and he’s going around the world shooting… trying to kill people.”
      Annie, Army Ranger’s ex-girlfriend
 
“My boyfriend is part of 172nd, military intelligence company. I had a plane ticket for August 1st to move to Alaska and live with him when he got home.”
     Cassie, Army girlfriend
 
“Is life in Iraq perfect? No. Don't think it will be for a long time. Heck, life isn't perfect here and we've been at it for a few centuries.”
     Carla, Army mother

“In Iraq, there are signs everywhere not only of holiday ingenuity, but also of people back home helping bring Christmas to us. At night, there's a bunker here on the base that has what appears to be a small, colorfully lighted Christmas tree perched on its uppermost point, but daylight reveals a triangle-shaped pile of green sandbags.”
     Akinoluna, Marine
 
“I mean as far as I mean me personally I can support my troop you know I have my man that comes home and I know what he needs.”
     Megan, Marine wife
 
“I am a different person than I was when I got up last April 4 to head to my track meet. I deal with much more bitterness, anger, and pain than I ever thought could effect me, but I also realize what is important in life.”
    Holly, Marine Recruit

 WORLD PREMIERE OF 
Hard Core: Women’s Reflections on Iraq
 November 10 – 19, 2006

Conceived by Kelly Flynn
Edited by Emily Brauer Rogers and Margaret O’Hora

Interviews by
Emily Brauer Rogers, Margaret O’ Hora,
Kelly Flynn, Jill Johnson

Directed by Emily Brauer Rogers

Featuring:
Neda Armstrong … Cassie
Linda Borg ……….. Olivia
Rose Chang …. Akinoluna
Katie Chidester …. . Megan
Catherine Cox …… Chelsea
James Grant ………... John
Kenlyn Kanouse …. Carla
Jennifer Pierce ……. Holly
Amber Scott …….. Annie

Production Staff:
Assistant Director: Margaret O’Hora
Lighting Design: Mark Matzkanin
Set Design: Emily Brauer Rogers
Sound Design: Joy Bice & Jill Johnson
Stage Manager: Margaret McGurr

The Hunger Artists Theatre Company’s 10th Anniversary Season continues with the world premiere of a compelling first person examination of the war in Iraq, Hard Core: Women’s Reflections on Iraq, November 10-19, 2006. An experiment in ethnographic theater in the spirit of works by Anna Deavere Smith and Moisés Kaufman’s Tectonic Theater Project, Hard Core explores the effects of the war on the lives of women affected by it -- mothers, wives, girlfriends, recruits and soldiers – in their own words.

 “What was originally called The Women and War project started in October 2005 because we weren't too aware of what was happening in Iraq, as well as what was happening to those who have close friends or family there,” Brauer Rogers explains. “So, we sought out men and women from across the country who had untold stories, interviewed them, and have created a play based on those interviews. Our only motivation was to tell untold stories about Iraq; we have no political allegiance or agenda, though some of our interview subjects do.”

The Hunger Artists began working on Hard Core: Women’s Reflections on Iraq back in October 2005 with initial conceptual discussions and the development of a standard list of interview questions. The interview process began in February 2006. Through interviews, emails and blogs, the interviewers spoke to 20 people to get their stories of the effects of the Iraq War on their lives. Interview subjects included mothers, girlfriends, wives, recruits and soldiers from across the United States from Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Oregon, New York, Arizona, and California. They represent a variety of political views as well as branches of the military.

“Working on this project has made me realize how far-reaching the effects of war are,” says Assistant Director Margaret O’Hora. “They not only change those directly involved, but have consequences on their families and loved ones. There are sacrifices on multiple levels that often go unrecognized by the general public."

Performances of Hard Core: Women’s Reflections on Iraq will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 7 pm. General admission tickets for Hard Core: Women’s Reflections on Iraq are $15; senior and students (with valid ID) may purchase tickets for $12. There will be a special $5 Preview on Thursday, November 9 at 8 pm. To reserve tickets, please call 714.680.6803. Tickets may also be reserved online by emailing hungerartists@yahoo.com