What: FREE workshop readings of a new play
A special project of The Medical Reserve Corps of Franklin County
When & Where:
Friday, May 5 at 7:00pm – Buckland Town Hall (Shelburne Falls)
Thursday, May 11 at 6:30pm – Greenfield Community College Dining Hall
Wednesday May 24 11am – South County Senior Center, South Deerfield
About the play:
The voices of older adults living in western Massachusetts combine to form the core of this performance experience that reflects the drama, the conflict, the inexplicable, and the (un)reality of adapting to constant change during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These first-person stories– sometimes poignant or sad, sometimes humorous, or joyful – are supplemented by narratives from members of the Medical Reserve Corps and others who worked in hospitals, clinics, and vaccination sites. Together, the stories offer rich insights- and some surprises- into how those of us in rural Massachusetts navigated the unknown territory of a global public health crisis.
A talkback after each workshop reading will provide an opportunity for the audience to respond to the production and contribute their insights towards the further development of the project.
This performance is co-sponsored by Greenfield Community College’s Department of Community Engagement and the Franklin Medical Reserve Corps. This program is supported in part by grants from the Buckland, Deerfield, Greenfield, and Sunderland local cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
The Franklin Medical Reserve Corps partnered with Greenfield Community College’s Department of Community Engagement to interview and record the oral histories of 27 older adults in our area. These recordings are archived in Digital Commonwealth, a digital archive managed by the Boston Public Library.
———–
Producers: Corinne McKeown, Director of the Medical Reserve Corps of Franklin/Berkshire County; Carmela Lanza-Weil, MRC Special Projects Consultant
Interviews conducted by Denise Schwartz and Craig Clemow
Written & directed by Carmela Lanza-Weil
Dramaturg/Script Consultant – Rebecca Daniels
Featuring: Jane Barish, Amanda Bowman, Marina Goldman, John Reese, Tricia Yacovone-Biagi with additional assistance from Eve Brown-Waite and Judith Sharp.
For questions, email info@wmmrc.org
