The Triangle premiere of “Remembering and Forgetting: An American Libretto,” will take the place of UUFR’s regular 10am service on Sunday, April 14th. This original blend of live music, video and spoken word pays homage to the innocent victims of mass shootings in America. The program will take place in the Sanctuary and runs 50 minutes. All are welcome; it is suitable for high school age and above, and there is no admission charge. Childcare will be provided.
The day will begin at 9:30am with tabling by Be SMART for Kids and North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, in Fellowship Hall. You’ll have an opportunity to write to your political representatives. Following the 10-11am performance, we’ll break for coffee and snacks upstairs from 11-11:30am. Starting at 11:30am, Rev. James will moderate a talkback and town hall with the creators and audience members. Joining the discussion will be Brian Yandle, director of Justice Theater Project’s “26 Pebbles,” a play about the Sandy Hook families tragically affected by gun violence.
Additionally, the upstairs gallery will display artwork from UUFR youth on the theme, “What makes you safe?” Works of poetry and prose selected by the Fellowship’s Poetry and Spirit group also will be on display. And we’ll hear music from UUFR’s Ukulele Band.
“Remembering and Forgetting” was created by three Appalachian State University professors—Bruce Dick, ASU Emeritus faculty, English; Rob Falvo, ASU School of Music; and Tom Whyte, ASU Emeritus faculty, Anthropology—along with Kemp Jones, a professional musician from Athens, Georgia.
In conjunction with “Remembering and Forgetting,” you also are invited to Justice Theater Project’s presentation of “26 Pebbles,” running April 12th-28th at Umstead Park United Church Of Christ. On December 14th, 2012, 26 innocent lives were taken at Sandy Hook Elementary. Like pebbles thrown in a pond, these 26 deaths created ripples that are still reverberating today. The stories of the survivors and families of Newtown are told in their own words, in what is not only an exploration of gun violence but a story of resilience, perseverance, hope, and outpourings of love.
“…the play focuses on the community’s struggle to cope and move forward, struggling, grieving, taking action, healing, and ultimately, loving their neighbors. It offers a rare and beautiful message of hope. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that we are somehow different after seeing this play. We are humbled by the words and actions of the people of Newtown and see ourselves in the people of this town in so many ways. We are all simply trying to live our lives without the fear of this type of massacre happening, and we often naively think it could never happen in our communities. After seeing 26 Pebbles, we leave the theater compelled to learn more, do more, talk more, and, hopefully, listen more.”-Mary Leonard, Concord Theatre International.
Individual and group tickets are available from Justice Theater Project: https://www.thejusticetheaterproject.org/26-pebbles
For more information, contact David Potorti, dpotort@gmail.com.