This special collaboration between Theater of War Productions, Community Building Art Works, and the PBS series Poetry in America will present live readings from Walt Whitman’s poem “The Wound-Dresser,” which centers on the poet's experience caring for Civil War veterans, as a catalyst for a powerful, guided discussion about the poem’s enduring relevance today. The event will also feature clips from Poetry in America’s recent episode on “The Wound-Dresser,” as well as live responses from a group of veterans and caregivers, to help frame crucial dialogue between diverse communities about the challenges of healing wounds—both visible and invisible—at this critical moment in our nation’s history.
Live readings by actors David Strathairn (Nomadland), Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Craig Manbauman (Poet, Nurse, United States Air Force Veteran), Maj. (Ret.) Belena Stuart Marquez (United States Air Force Veteran), and COL (Ret.) Gregory D. Gadson (Battleship).
Facilitated by Bryan Doerries & Seema Reza
Introduced by Elisa New
Produced by Marjolaine Goldsmith
The event Zoom link will be distributed via email and available to registered attendees starting 2 days prior to the event.
This event will be captioned in English.
All of Theater of War Productions' events follow the same format:
- The performers will read the text.
- Community panelists will kick off the discussion with their gut responses to what resonated with them across time
- We will open the discussion to the audience, facilitated by Bryan Doerries and Seema Reza. During the discussion, please raise your hand using the button at the bottom center of the screen. If called upon, you will be promoted to speak and you will be visible and heard by the entire audience for the duration of your comments. If you would prefer not to be seen, please disable your video.
I am faithful, I do not give out,
The fractur’d thigh, the knee, the wound in the abdomen,
These and more I dress with impassive hand, (yet deep in my breast a fire, a burning flame.)
Cast Members
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David Strathairn
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Jeffrey Wright
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Craig Manbauman
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Belena Stuart Marquez
Event Partners
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Domestic ViolencePatient and Impatient GriseldaTheater of War Productions and Margaret Atwood return to the Toronto International Festival of Authors with an exciting new collaboration exploring power and control, domestic violence, and family dynamics by way of two versions of the same story, one written by Giovanni Boccaccio in 1348 during the bubonic plague and the other by Atwood in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Bocaccio’s version, a woman named Griselda remains in an abusive and controlling relationship, showing great patience and forbearance in the face of her husband’s sadism and cruelty. In Atwood’s version, Griselda takes matters in her own hands and, with the help of her sister, turns the tables on her husband.
This free, public event featured a live, dramatic reading of the “Patient Griselda” story from Boccaccio's Decameron by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Fleishman is in Trouble), Maev Beaty (Beau is Afraid, Mouthpiece), and Araya Mengesha (Tiny Pretty Things, Nobody). Then, in response, Margaret Atwood performed “Impatient Grisleda,” a story that is narrated to a group of humans in quarantine by an alien that looks like an octopus. The readings of both texts was followed by immediate responses by community panelists and culminated in a guided audience discussion, facilitated by Bryan Doerries (Artistic Director, Theater of War Productions).
Co-presented by Theater of War Productions and Toronto International Festival of Authors.
This hybrid presentation took place in person at the Toronto Harbourfront Centre Theatre and on Zoom Webinar on September 30, 2023.
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Caregiving & DeathThe Susie King Taylor ProjectA dramatic reading of Susie King Taylor's memoir to help frame powerful, guided discussions about challenges faced by Nurses and Veterans.