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"On Monday, in more than a thousand readings of a classic Greek play around the world...in living rooms and large theaters, libraries and classrooms, “Make Love Not War” was the lusty message. The largest, showiest and probably most somber of the readings [presented by UTB]...two sold-out houses...a cast of 100 noted actors, musicians and singers....both aptly silly and stately....supple, insistent musical commentary. Aside from Aristophanes, Stuart may have gotten off the best line of the day. Introducing the production at Berkeley Rep, he offered this aphorism: “Let us all run into this crowded fire – and cry ‘Theater!’”
San Francisco Chronicle

The first-ever worldwide theatrical event for Peace took place on Monday, March 3rd, 2003. Theatre artists from around the planet raised their collective voice for Peace by producing readings of Aristophanes' Lysistrata. The ancient play (both satire and prayer) rendered a spiritual thunderclap around the globe raising public awareness for the volume of war opposition in the weeks prior to the eventual bombing of Iraq. 1,029 official readings were held in 59 countries. The Project was conceived and seeded by theatre artists Kathryn Blume & Sharron Bower in New York City, and quickly blossomed into a global bouquet.

In the East Bay Area of California, regional theatre director Randall Stuart brought an epic production (featuring a cast of 100) to the stage at Berkeley Rep playing twice in one night to a total of 1200 attendees. The production was subsequently awarded the Bay Area Critics Circle Award. The money raised tithed to the work of Not In Our Name, Amnesty International, MoveOn.org, International Answer, and Lysistrata Project NYC.

UTB assembled a cast of noted Bay Area actors, musicians and singers from each of the top local theatre companies, including the American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Aurora Theatre Company, Porchlight Theatre Company among others. The beguiling vocal harmonies of Constance Doolan & Katy Stephan partnered with the rhythms of the dynamic drum ensemble The Sons & Daughters of Orpheus to create a whirl of dance, choral chant and high theatrical revelry.

Link to the San Francisco Chronicle feature story and also our production's photo in Newsweek. Read more about co-creators Sharron & Kathryn at Art Is Peace page.

A tribe of many of the Bay Area's finest stage actors took to the stage: Lorri Holt, Domenique Lozano, JoAnne Winter, Marco Barricelli, Barbara Oliver, Gregory Wallace, Steven Anthony Jones, Rene Augesen, Deborah Sussel, David Warren Keith, Hector Correa, Anni Long, Owen Murphy, Kay Kostopolous, Robert Sicular, Molly Noble, Terry Lamb, Howard Dillon, Karl Hanover, Lauren Grace, Jennifer LeBlanc, Alison Strahan, Amy Wieczorek, Torange Yeghiazarian & so many more great actors, musicians and volunteer artisans (100+).

Investigate the LYSISTRATA subcategories in the Table of Contents (above, left) for a Gallery of LYS Images and LYS Notes & Thanks.