Our Literature to Life series is the cloud with the silver lining.

Unfortunately, we will not be offering Literature to Life for the 2009-2010 season. We’ve exhausted the active repertoire of The American Place Theatre.

The silver lining to that cloud is that American Place Theatre is creating two new productions: The Giver from the novel by Lois Lowry and Three Cups of Tea from the memoir by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. We’re in negotiations to bring both pieces to The Bushnell in the 2010-2011 season. In addition, American Place Theatre is working with us to develop our own Literature to Life production of Melba Pattillo Beals’ memoir, Warriors Don’t Cry, for the fall of 2010, just a year from now. As one of the Little Rock Nine who integrated Central High School in 1957, her story explores themes of fear and courage, isolation and community, the family and the nation.

We hope Warriors will be the first of many Bushnell-produced pieces. To that end, we welcome your suggestions for titles you think would translate well to the Literature to Life format.

Thank you for your support of the Literature to Life Series.

Our September 29 performance of the play Letters Home , which is based on letters written by soldiers currently fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, is one of several components of The Bushnell’s first celebration of Peace Day. In partnership with The Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, the evening will include the following:

5:45 pm - Gather at The Charter Oak Cultural Center
6:00 pm - Peace ritual at The Charter Oak Cultural Center led by EarthSpirit Community of Williamsburg, MA
6:20 pm - Candle-lit procession to The Bushnell led by EarthSpirit
7:00 pm - Preshow speakers: Rabbi Donna Berman and writer Ron Winter
7:30 pm - Performance of Letters Home (no intermission)
9:00 pm - Q&A with the cast of Letters Home
9:15 pm - Musical gathering in the courtyard led by EarthSpirit. Bring your drums!
Someday - A world at peace

The two pre-show speakers are:

Rabbi Donna Berman is the executive director of The Charter Oak Cultural Center, a nonprofit, multicultural arts center committed to preserving the Jewish heritage of its building in downtown Hartford, giving access to the arts to all people and doing the work of social justice. Charter Oak has long been an arts showcase for the region's ethnically and culturally diverse communities. Rabbi Berman will talk about the connection between peace and cultural diversity.

Ron Winter served in Vietnam as a helicopter machine gunner, flying 300 missions, and earning numerous decorations, including 15 Air Medals, Combat Aircrew Wings, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. As a newspaper columnist, he received several prestigious awards and a Pulitzer nomination. He is the author of Masters of the Art: A Fighting Marine’s Memoir of Vietnam and a fierce advocate of veterans’ rights.

Special Offers:
Military and Civil Service Special Offer – In honor of our brothers and sisters who have, and those who continue to, serve our country we’d like to offer 50% off tickets to the Tuesday, September 29 evening performance of Letters Home; when you present your military/civil service identification. Call The Bushnell Box Office at 860-987-5900 and mention this special offer.

Bring a Friend! - Plan a night out with 3 or more of your friends and get $5 off each ticket to the Tuesday, September 29 evening performance of Letters Home. Call The Bushnell Box Office at 860-987-5900 and mention this special offer.

Offers not valid on previously purchased tickets. Valid on remaining seats only. Not to be combined with any other offer.

We hope you will join us for this special event!