Shakespeare With Veterans 2018-2019
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Kentucky ShakespeareShakespeare with Veterans connects veterans and civilians through the words of Shakespeare.
$6,275
raised by 41 people
$8,000 goal
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”
Military veterans need a unit to belong to, and they want a mission to pursue. Kentucky Shakespeare’s Shakespeare with Veterans provides both. YOU can be a part of these veterans’ healing journey, truly supporting our troops, with a financial donation today!
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!”
Kentucky Shakespeare, a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, seeks assistance to fund the Shakespeare with Veterans program for the upcoming 2018-2019 season. A crowd-funding campaign enabled us to launch this program three years ago, and we're delighted to report that the program has since achieved worldwide recognition - featured on BBC WorldWide, NPR, and in Stars and Stripes, the Huffington Post, and Guideposts. With your help, we can lift up and inspire more veterans and their families, and reach more civilians through our work.
WHAT is it?
Shakespeare with Veterans is a free weekly conversation group and acting ensemble. They meet at the Louisville Vet Center every Thursday to discuss pieces of Shakespearean text and tell stories – war stories, life stories, family stories. They’ve shared personal triumphs and tragedies, and the group truly depends on each other. New participants are always welcome, and there is no barrier to entry.
In addition to all that, Shakespeare with Veterans has become an acting ensemble. Under the instruction of Amy Attaway, a professional director/facilitator from Kentucky Shakespeare, they learn acting and ensemble techniques while gaining an appreciation of Shakespeare and how his works reflect the warrior culture.
They perform snippets of Shakespeare text for groups of veterans and civilians all over the city during the year, and in the summer they perform an abridged Shakespeare play on Kentucky Shakespeare’s stage in Central Park. Very few of the participants came to the group with any Shakespeare or theatre experience, but they’ve found meaning in the texts and confidence through the group.
“You have no idea what a difference this group has made in my life. I’m always in the best mood when I leave here." – US Army veteran, Vietnam
"This group has helped me gain control over what my emotions do. It’s also helped me relate to civilians better.” - US Navy veteran, Vietnam
"We have genuine human connections, and it's so easy. [When we're performing] we don't know what's going to happen and THAT'S OKAY. We're not going to analyze each other." - US Army veteran of the Cold War era
WHO is it?
The current group consists of women and men who are veterans of the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, representing conflicts as far back as Vietnam, with former ranks from Specialist to Brigadier General. Most deployed during conflict, and most have some form of PTSD or moral injury. ALL are welcome.
"Every other vets group I've been in involved big expectations and a lot of guilt. This group is accepting and I feel comfortable here. While we're here we don't feel like we're broken. We know these are normal reactions to experiences we've had." - Indiana Army National Guard soldier
"We can just let our guard down here. Shakespeare pushes things to the surface that we need to deal with." - US Air Force veteran
"I thought I was an island, but we all have similar feelings." - US Army veteran
"This group is like a trust fall… It's been 13 years since I left the service and this is the first time a group has worked for me." – US Army veteran
Come see us!
Shakespeare with Veterans will perform an abridged version of Shakespeare's HENRY IV, PART I at 7pm on July 14 on the Kentucky Shakespeare stage in Louisville's Central Park.