Celebrated Actors Come to Read in Nat Geo’s ‘Theatre of War’

If you haven’t yet rushed over to the National Geographic Museum to see “The Greeks,” an exhibit filled with more than 550 artifacts from the national collections of 22 museums throughout Greece that focuses on conquerors from Agamemnon to Alexander the Great, you’d best run before it closes on October 10, 2016.

But if you have already seen it, you know there likely isn’t any better backdrop to read from Greek writings — or to discuss war and its affects on society and civilizations.

Last Sunday evening, the Society held a special presentation of Bryan Doerries’ “Theater of War,” an innovative public health project, in its Grosvenor Theater.  Celebrated actors like Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale, Boardwalk Empire, Angels in America), Reg E. Cathey (House of Cards, The Wire, Oz), Elizabeth Marvel (House of Cards, Fargo, Burn After Reading), and David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, The Bourne Ultimatum, Lincoln) took to the stage for a dramatic reading of scenes from Sophocles’ Ajax and Philoctetes… in front of an audience made up largely of service members, veterans, and others personally touched by war and conflict.

The readings created a stirring theatrical event, as well as a dialogue with panelists Lieutenant Colonel Joseph C. Geraci, military spouse Jennifer Weaver, SFC Chris Chavez, and LCDR/MSC/USN Jason Duff about the challenges faced by service members and their caregivers and families today.

*Photos credit Elizabeth Fitzgerald (National Geographic )

UPDATE: 9/13/16 — Ford’s Theatre Society announced today that the new Irene Sankoff and David Hein musical “Come From Away,” based on the heart-warming true story of how a small Canadian town cared for 6,579 airline passengers stranded in Newfoundland after 9/11, has extended due to popular demand. The musical, which is directed by Christopher Ashley, now runs through October 16, 2016.