Randall Stuart & Sharron Bower

Preshow Speech by Randall Stuart

Good evening and welcome. The "call” came out three weeks ago to do this particular play for you tonight, and we are here thanks to the proffered gift of time and energy (and urgency) of all involved; it's been an alchemy of Loving Kindness. Artists uniting. For we must.

It was on January 9th, 2003 (two and half years ago) that I received an e-mail which changed my life as an artisan, and frankly as an Earthling. It was a call-out from two spunky gals in New York, Ms. Bower & Ms. Blume, who were launching a Love Missive which was to be heard around the world: Lysistrata Project.  The Project asked that we artists get together - wherever we might find ourselves in the world - all on one night in March 2003 (as governmental plots brewed to bomb Baghdad) and do a play reading of Aristophanes' comic anti-war play Lysistrata. In this ancient comedy, the women of the community hatch a smart plot to deny sex to their fighting-men until the guys put down their weapons. This boycott works in the play.  And the play worked as an idea. And yes, for that March night in 2003, in more than 1,029 readings across the globe, we helped to pull back the rabid hounds of war and pray out loud for a sane response from generals too blind to see the future of looted museums and rivers of blood. It worked...for that night...on that eve of "beginning".

Sacred Theatre is an offer of a "third way" in these times of trouble. Sacred Theatre is an activated prayer - "ceremony" of a highest order. Humans, breathing, together in a room. Not apart, or through a screen or over a wire.

You, as the particulat choir tonight, may feel "sung to" on this point - but hey in our busy lives, we too require invigoration and a new ignition. And may I say, I am especially amazed by this grand ensemble who have forged time in their busy lives to "pray this forward."

Atmospheric circumstances swirl - and it's clear that we are being called  back to the campfire. The Bards are there, to sing us the tale of our history and ancestral memory and our desires to craft the future.  And in "awe".  With decency. Then, perhaps if we've truly earned it? - to regain our civilized selves.

We dare to suggest, in our dialect of Sacred Theatre, that Joy will burst the hard shell, and all of the growling will cease...and we will discover for a second time, there by the warming fire, that our vocal chords go beyond "the bark", and have "speech!" - and a brave country to speak in - and it's no sin to imagine the next best country, a decent democratic country, with relief for all. And on this eve of the new "third way", as the world shakes and fears its’ own fire power? - let us all run (smack-dab-&-daring) into that crowded fire, and shout "Theatre!"

 *Gentlewomen, and gentlemen...may I introduce two of my beloved colleagues: Kathryn Blume & Sharron Bower.