Words of Choice
Choice Words
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Powerful stories

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A host of diverse stories share women's experiences in 'Words of Choice' ...
 
 
 
"A powerful tool for reawakening the passion of choice ..."
 
 
 
 
"A thoroughly engrossing
compilation ..."
 
 
 
 
...Words are found responsible
all you can do is choose them
or choose
to remain silent.  Or, you never had a choice.
which is why the words that do stand
are responsible ...
 
 
'North American Time'
Adrienne Rich
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"I have continued to hear such
good feedback ..."
 
 
 
 
 
"Congratulations, truly, on a spectacular performance."
 
 
 
 
 
"Each piece is riveting." 
Jennifer Baumgardner
 
 

"Projects such as Words of Choice are especially important now now as anti-choice lawmakers continue their attacks in Congress and in the states…. We would like to recognize your courage and dedication to advancing reproductive freedom at this critical time."  Nancy Keenan, Ex. Director, NARAL Pro-Choice America

 

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The original Words of Choice from 2004-2007, included a dozen original and exciting works.

 

 

Read More About Our History and Mission: Choice Words -- Inclusions 2004-2007

 

 

Now released in a new book, Front Lines, Political Plays by American Women, ed. Alexis Greene, Shirley Lauro.  See News

 

 

Choices I is also on DVD.  See DVD

 

WORDS OF CHOICE II, first performed in Fall 2008, includes:

 

 

Opposing Arguments -- by Judith Arcana: Comments at a crisis pregnancy center.

 

 

Letters to Justice Blackmun -- by Sally Blackmun and Justice Harry Blackmun: The aftermath of Roe v. Wade in letters to a Supreme Court justice.

 

 

Seminary: Rev. Christine Grimbol -- by Angela Bonavoglia: A woman minister finds her profaith prochoice voice.

 

 

Big Mike's Blog: A government official comically pumps up regulations on reproductive health.

 

 

Nobody -- by Esosa Edosomwan: A woman longs to be seen as more than body parts.

 

 

The Line -- from Feminist Women's Health Center online: Waiting through a pregnancy test.

 

 

Incantation -- poetry by June Jordan: Yearnings for love and justice.

 

 

At The Movies -- by Penny Lane: A tour of the view on the big screen, and little.

 

 

End of A Period -- by Barbara Lindsay: A woman explains the joys of menstruation.

 

 

Jana -- from an interview of Jana Mackey by Words of Choice: A young activist connects the dots about women and justice.

 

 

My Mother, and Parallel Lives: Kathy Najimy, interviewed by Angela Bonavoglia, and a section from serio-comic 'confessions' by Najimy and Mo Gaffney in which two women run through 14 years of sin.

 

 

Blessed -- by Alix Olson: A young woman finds power in using her tongue.

 

 

Rev. Jimmy Fearall's Hour of Destiny by Michael David Quinn: A tv evangelist strikes out against abortion, and passes the bucket.

 

 

Laws I Want -- adapted from RHRealityCheck.org: Dreaming of a few prochoice legal riffs.

 

 

Matt's Story -- Mary Ann Sorrentino: A Vietnam vet learns new lessons through an illegal abortion.

 

 

Approximating Mother (excerpts) -- by Kathleen Tolan: A pregnant teen wishes she could be adopted.

 

 

Siege -- by Dr. Susan Wicklund: A doctor pushes back against anti-abortion protesters.

DOWNLOAD HERE Our 2008 POSTER

DOWNLOAD HERE FACT SHEET 2009: The Facts Behind The Stories

"I was struck throughout by how important it is to hear people's heart stories in their own words."   Comments
 
 
"A wonderful way to celebrate Roe's anniversary."
 
WORDS OF CHOICE
smart ...
funny ...
-- endangered
 
"Choosing to respond with the
weapon at their disposal:
words."
 
"RAVE reviews."
 

Cast, Fall 2008, Words of Choice II
2008_0925words2008cast0095re2redux.jpg
Carl H. Jaynes, Claudia Schneider, Crista Marie Jackson

What We Do, and Where
 
Words of Choice first performed in 2000.  Its first tour took place in 2003 in Virginia and Washington D.C., working in particular with Virginia NOW. 
 
In 2004, two casts toured eight states, including Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey. 
 
In 2005, performances traveled to Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, with a cast from St. Louis under the direction of Joan Lipkin. 
 
In 2006, New York touring casts traveled to several states, including Iowa, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Connecticut, and, before a vote on an abortion ban (it lost), across the state of South Dakota. 
 
In 2007. a DVD was released and, under distribution by the National Film Network, appeared in multiple locations from New York to Texas.

From 2004-2007, the performances of Words of Choice and our DVD included the works of a dozen writers. Choice Words -- 2004-2007

In 2008, we mounted a new collection of works, called Words of Choice II. We toured to Colorado to oppose a ballot measure that would have outlawed all abortion, and to Kansas to support Dr. George Tiller, choice activists and 1100 Torches in memory of Jana Mackey.

In 2009, we performed Words of Choice II in NYC.  Words of Choice I was released in a book, Front Lines: Political Plays by American Women.  We published an essay in Women's eNews, "Dr. Tiller Leaves His Attitude for Us to Carry On," honored the work of slain Dr. George Tiller, with whom Words of Choice collaborated in Kansas. Cindy Cooper, founder, and Words of Choice, were honored with the 2009 Anne E. Fisher Champion of Choice Award by NARAL Pro-Choice America at a luncheon in New York City.  Words of Choice released its first promotional video, created by Diana Whitcroft.

 

 

 
For further information - 212-560-2616

www.wordsofchoice.org

Words of Choice ~~ dynamic pro-choice  theater~~ wordsofchoice@mindspring.com