Trial of the Catonsville Nine extends at The Actors' Gang

THE TRIAL OF THE CATONSVILLE NINE extends at The Actors' Gang through March 28

http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/93647

Entertainment Desk
March 07, 2009

The public is encouraged to join "Protests for Peace" led by military
veteran and peace activist April Fitzsimmons on the corner of Venice
and Culver Blvds. Playwright and former Catonsville Nine member
Father Daniel Berrigan continues to speak out for peace.

CULVER CITY, CA - The Trial of the Catonsville Nine has extended for
one week, through March 28, at The Actors' Gang in Culver City.

On May 17th, 1968, two Catholic priests and seven Catholic activists,
including a nurse, a nun, an artist and four others, walked into the
selective service office Local Board 33, located in Catonsville,
Maryland, grabbed hundreds of 1-A draft files and burned them with
homemade napalm in protest against U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The
publicity and news coverage from the ensuing trial was instrumental
in galvanizing the American anti-war movement. Written by Jesuit
priest, teacher, poet and activist Father Daniel Berrigan, The Trial
of the Catonsville Nine is a free-verse dramatization based on the
actual records of the trial in which he and eight others were convicted.

"The actions of the Nine are a reminder that silence is collusion,"
says military veteran and peace activist April Fitzsimmons. "We need
to continue to speak out if we want to effect change." Fitzsimmons
invites the public to join her in organized Protests for Peace on the
corner of Venice and Culver Blvds beginning one hour prior to each
performance (7 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 pm on Sundays).

After Catonsville, Father Berrigan spent several months underground
and, after his capture, 18 months in prison. He has continued to
maintain a level of activism and protests, including protests against
the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the U.S invasions of Afghanistan
and Iraq, and he has continued to be arrested frequently for his
protest actions. He lives at the Westside Jesuit Community in
Manhattan where, at age 87, he continues to teach, write and work for
peace. Father Berrigan has offered to make himself available for
select interviews in support of The Actors' Gang production. For more
information, contact Lucy Pollak at lucy@lucypr.com.

The Los Angeles Times' Charlotte Stoudt calls The Actors' Gang
production "an impassioned revival [that] shows at once how far, and
how little, we've come." In the LA Weekly, Deborah Klugman wrote,
"GO! An impassioned argument for following the dictates of one's
conscience." On LAist, Farley Elliott blogged, "Engrossing [and]
deeply impactful... the direction and dialogue are so powerful... it
is heartwarming to see that the Actors Gang can still deliver." Back
Stage's Jennie Webb agreed: "A phenomenal ensemble of actors... This
may be a courtroom drama, but it's about America itself."
--

Performances of the Trial of the Catonsville Nine continue Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through March 28.
Talk Backs with the cast take place after every Sunday matinee.
Reserved seating is $25.00 for all performances. General admission on
Thursday evenings is Pay-What-You-Can for tickets purchased at the
door. The Actors' Gang is located in the Ivy Substation at 9070
Venice Blvd. (near the intersection of Culver and Venice Blvds.) in
Culver City. For reservations and information, call The Actors' Gang
Box Office at 310-838-GANG (310-838-4264) or go to www.theactorsgang.com.

DETAILS for "The Trial of the Catonsville Nine"

The Trial of the Catonsville Nine - Father Daniel Berrigan's
free-verse dramatization is based on the actual records of the trial
in which he and other Catholic priests were convicted for the 1968
burning of selective service files as a protest against U.S.
involvement in the war in Vietnam. Military veteran and peace
activist April Fitzsimmons invites the public to join her in
organized Protests for Peace on the corner of Venice and Culver Blvds
beginning one hour prior to each performance (7 pm on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 pm on Sundays).

Written by Daniel Berrigan
Directed by Jon Kellam
Starring Cameron Dye, Scott Harris, George Ketsios, Ethan Kogan,
Corey G. Lovett, Adele Robbins, Chris Schultz, Patti Tippo, Andrew E.
Wheeler, Paige Lindsey White

Presented by The Actors' Gang

Continues through March 28:
Thursdays at 8 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm (Talk Backs with the cast and special guests takes
place following Sunday matinees.)

THE ACTORS' GANG
Ivy Substation
9070 Venice Blvd. (corner of Culver and Venice Blvds.)
Culver City, CA 90232
(two hours free parking available across the street in Ince Parking
Lot, corner of Culver and Ince)

To reserve tickets, call 310-838-GANG (310-838-4264) or vist
www.theactorsgang.com

Reserved Seating: $25
Students/seniors: $20
General admission on Thursday evenings is Pay-What-You-Can for
tickets purchased at the door.

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