What a distinctly noble idea:
To entertain, educate, heal, and inspire all current and former service men and women of the United States Armed Forces through the power and service of the performing arts.
The organization created to facilitate that mission is Arts in the Armed Forces (AITAF), which, per a press release received by the CFR, was “created to bridge the gap between the military and the performing arts communities by producing a series of free performances, under the structure of monologues and jazz, for a mixed military and civilian audience.”
The performed material is chosen “with an eye to what might speak to this particular audience, without being exclusively war-themed or focused.”
AITAF’s latest event, slated for Mon., Nov. 8, at 8pm, at the American Airlines Theatre, is a free evening of monologues and jazz being performed to the men and women of the military and their families in honor of Veteran’s Day.
The event has been announced by actor Adam Driver, who, in addition to starring in Roundabout’s current revival of Mrs. Warren’s Profession, was a marine with 1/1 Weapons Company 81’s Platoon in Camp Pendleton, and also by actor Joanne Tucker, familiar from work in plays at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre and HERE Arts Center. Both actors are Juilliard graduates and are co-running the nonprofit.
The event on Mon., Nov. 8, directed by David Cromer, will feature performances by Eric Bogosian, Susan Sarandon, Dianne Wiest, Reg E. Cathey, John Patrick Shanley, Lauren Ambrose, Jay O. Sanders, Francois Battiste, Saidah Ekulona and the John Batiste Jazz Trio.
Here’s a little more on the Nov. 8 event:
The evening consists of a scene and several monologues from modern plays interspersed with jazz, for a SOLD OUT audience of military veterans and current service men and women and their families from in and around the New York City area, as well as a cross-section of the performing arts and civilian communities…
We salute our men and women in uniform here at the CFR and wish Driver and Tucker continued success with their endeavor.
And if you have a few bucks — and we know some of you do — make a donation. Please tell them that the CFR sent you.
