Play uses real stories to depict life in wartime

If you want to know the truth about what life is like during wartime, you need to hear it from those who experienced it. On April 6, the actual words of service members come to life in a special one-night only production of “Letters Home.”

The play will be presented at the Tidewater Community College Roper Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. It is presented in partnership with the TCC Chapter of Student Veterans of America.

Inspired by the New York Times article “The Things They Wrote” and the HBO documentary “Last Letters Home,” this touring production from the Griffin Theatre Company in Chicago offers a poignant and patriotic account of the lives of service members and their families told through actual writings from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“We feel this is an important production for TCC to bring to town since about one in three students at our school is in some way connected to the military,” said Paul Lasakow, executive director of the TCC Roper Center. “But in truth, the stories speak to all of us who live in this community and in this nation.”

The letters are performed in dramatic monologues, using minimal props and sets. Enhancing the experience are projected photos and videos as they appeared on actual soldiers’ blogs and from their social media messages.

“The mission of the Griffin Theatre Company is to build bridges of understanding between generations,” said William Massolia, a founder of the company who adapted the original material for this production. “We hope that this presentation reveals the humanity that lies within war as seen through the eyes of men and women still fighting and dying in those conflicts today.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for TCC alumni, $10 for students and $10 for veterans, active duty military and their families. They’re available online and at the door.

Current TCC students can obtain tickets for $5 at the door with student ID or online with VCCS.edu student email address at tidewater.universitytickets.com.

The TCC Roper Center is at 340 Granby St. in downtown Norfolk. For information, call 757-822-1450 or visit www.tcc.edu/roper.