Joined
·
613 Posts
BOLD Moves on Labor Day
Faring Seven Souls, Caesareans, and Birth Canals
For more information please contact Nicole Choiniere at (413) 627-1702 or [email protected]
1 September 2006. Longmeadow, Ma - On September 1, Longmeadow will boldly go where no play has gone before: between the legs of seven laboring women. Part of a worldwide production, First Church of Christ at 763 Longmeadow Street will host a special benefit performance of the critically acclaimed theatrical hit, Birth, at 7pm.
Created by mother and playwright Karen Brody, Birth is "as poignant and powerful as it is simple and direct," according to press notes. The story of seven women, Birth is delivered in a theatrical experience that melds the unbridled hilarity, the unexpected poignancy, and the naked truth of childbirth in America.
The culmination of 118 true stories, the cast represents the birthing spectrum from liberal, "My body rocks!"-bleating Amanda (Gretel Schatz), to strong-willed, no-nonsense Vanessa (Nancy Kocsmiersky), to career-driven Beth (Cheyenne Ferro), and even angry, somewhat deflated Lisa (Ute Schmidt).
But at the cornerstone of each story lies personal choice. And Janet's (Jan Pierce) epidural, Jillian's (Kristin Thomas) home birth, and Sandy's (Bridget Keator) cesarean section are all on display without judgment.
"Birth is such a powerful play and I am thrilled to be a part of it," says the director of the local reading, Reverend Kelly Gallagher. "I am pleased that First Church is sponsoring this great community project. I think the play opens the way for women to discuss childbirth on both a personal and community level and I consider that a truly important conversation for women to have."
Longmeadow has embraced the play as part of a global Birth On Labor Day movement to make maternity care more mother-friendly. Between September 1-4, Birth will been performed in more than 30 cities around the world, including New York, Washington, DC, Wellington, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Austin.
"Maternity care is a mess and in many communities pregnant mother's voices are silenced," says playwright Karen Brody. "BOLD is a global community effort to encourage people to know the truth about childbirth, make informed birth choices, and for professionals in the maternity care field to start listening to women."
Brody adds. "Can a play help improve maternity care around the world? I hope so."
The performance will be followed by a talkback session on mother-friendly maternity care in Massachusetts.
All of the proceeds will benefit Citizens for Midwifery in honor of their continuing promotion of mother-friendly maternity care throughout the United States. Citizens for Midwifery is a non-profit, volunteer, grassroots organization. Founded by several mothers in 1996, it is the only national consumer-based group promoting the Midwives Model of Care. The goal of Citizens for Midwifery is to see that the Midwives Model of Care is available to all childbearing women and universally recognized as the best kind of care for pregnancy and birth.
More information on Birth and BOLD is available at www.birthonlaborday.com.
Faring Seven Souls, Caesareans, and Birth Canals
For more information please contact Nicole Choiniere at (413) 627-1702 or [email protected]
1 September 2006. Longmeadow, Ma - On September 1, Longmeadow will boldly go where no play has gone before: between the legs of seven laboring women. Part of a worldwide production, First Church of Christ at 763 Longmeadow Street will host a special benefit performance of the critically acclaimed theatrical hit, Birth, at 7pm.
Created by mother and playwright Karen Brody, Birth is "as poignant and powerful as it is simple and direct," according to press notes. The story of seven women, Birth is delivered in a theatrical experience that melds the unbridled hilarity, the unexpected poignancy, and the naked truth of childbirth in America.
The culmination of 118 true stories, the cast represents the birthing spectrum from liberal, "My body rocks!"-bleating Amanda (Gretel Schatz), to strong-willed, no-nonsense Vanessa (Nancy Kocsmiersky), to career-driven Beth (Cheyenne Ferro), and even angry, somewhat deflated Lisa (Ute Schmidt).
But at the cornerstone of each story lies personal choice. And Janet's (Jan Pierce) epidural, Jillian's (Kristin Thomas) home birth, and Sandy's (Bridget Keator) cesarean section are all on display without judgment.
"Birth is such a powerful play and I am thrilled to be a part of it," says the director of the local reading, Reverend Kelly Gallagher. "I am pleased that First Church is sponsoring this great community project. I think the play opens the way for women to discuss childbirth on both a personal and community level and I consider that a truly important conversation for women to have."
Longmeadow has embraced the play as part of a global Birth On Labor Day movement to make maternity care more mother-friendly. Between September 1-4, Birth will been performed in more than 30 cities around the world, including New York, Washington, DC, Wellington, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Austin.
"Maternity care is a mess and in many communities pregnant mother's voices are silenced," says playwright Karen Brody. "BOLD is a global community effort to encourage people to know the truth about childbirth, make informed birth choices, and for professionals in the maternity care field to start listening to women."
Brody adds. "Can a play help improve maternity care around the world? I hope so."
The performance will be followed by a talkback session on mother-friendly maternity care in Massachusetts.
All of the proceeds will benefit Citizens for Midwifery in honor of their continuing promotion of mother-friendly maternity care throughout the United States. Citizens for Midwifery is a non-profit, volunteer, grassroots organization. Founded by several mothers in 1996, it is the only national consumer-based group promoting the Midwives Model of Care. The goal of Citizens for Midwifery is to see that the Midwives Model of Care is available to all childbearing women and universally recognized as the best kind of care for pregnancy and birth.
More information on Birth and BOLD is available at www.birthonlaborday.com.
