October 4, 2004

PRO-CHOICE PLAY LAUNCHES GO-VOTE TOUR IN KEY STATES

"Words of Choice" Puts Electoral Issues On Stage With Two National Casts

Contact: 212-560-2616

        "Words of Choice," a play of poignant tales of reproductive freedom, is launching a multi-state "go-vote" tour in October. Words of Choice, created by playwright and journalist Cindy Cooper, will mount productions in six states in October to urge voters and campaigns to pay attention to key concerns of women, men and their right to privacy.

      The collection of passionate comic and dramatic stories touches upon many in-the-news topics in this election season: emergency contraception, sexual assault, unintended pregnancy, abstinence education and bans on safe abortion procedures.

       "I wanted to break open the conversation on reproductive rights," said Cooper, "We move out from political 'debate' to first-hand experiences – serious and humorous – that reflect women’s real lives. It’s time for leaders to talk candidly about these topics."

       Touring shows of Words of Choice will appear in 18 cities in key states: Florida, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland from Oct. 7 to Oct. 25. One cast of Jamila Anderson, Heidi Fellner and Jay Reilly, all from Minneapolis, will cross the Midwest; another cast of Safiya Fredericks, Ryan G. Jensen and Rebecca Mills from New York, will travel the East Coast, including Florida. Suzanne Bennett directs. Tour sponsors include the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in MO, NOW in Chicago, National Council of Jewish Women divisions and Planned Parenthood affiliates.

      A fusion of shorts from journalism, poetry, oral history, comedy and spoken word, Words of Choice projects the rich panorama of modern lives. In it, a father describes his feelings after learning of his daughter’s rape, a pregnant teen tries to recall the phone number of her date, a woman learns of severe fetal anomalies during Jewish holidays, two adventurous thirty-somethings spill all in comic confessions, and a deranged publicist announces the release of the morning-after burrito. A dozen writers are represented, including Kathy Najimy, Angela Bonavoglia, Justice Harry Blackmun, Gloria Feldt, Emilie Townes, Judith Arcana, Michael Quinn, and The Onion.

      Performances are followed by a discussion with artists and activists. Words of Choice has previously appeared at theaters, colleges and faith-based venues in New York, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Virginia, Ohio and Minnesota, including at the Ensemble Studio Theater and Union Theological Seminary in NY, Planned Parenthood in MA, University of Virginia and George Washington University.

      More information:  wordsofchoice@mindspring.com.

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