[StBernard] Voices of Louisiana return engagement in Lacombe

[Westley Annis]

	The Voices Foundation and its Evacuation Theatre Troupe returns its
	traveling production of THE VOICES OF LOUISIANA ...
	
	WHEN: December 2 at 7 pm. The doors open at 6:30 pm and tickets are
$25.
	WHAT: Voices of Louisiana, an original play by New Orleans
playwright
	Barry Lemoine, produced by The Voices Foundation
	WHERE: Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church, 28662 Krentel Road,
	Lacombe, La.
	
	TICKETS: Pj's Coffee & Tea Co, (985) 643-9040. Address: 154 E Hall
Ave
	Slidell, LA
	CONTACT: Gay DiGiovanni, 985.643.3434, Rose Marie Sand 504.666.1220
	
	
	WHAT:
	
	The ETT recently embarked on a 2-month national tour performing in
	Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
	Illinois, at venues as varied as the Red Cloud Opera House and Notre
	Dame University's Washington Hall.
	
	The troupe performed in Lacombe in August 2006 as a fundraiser
before
	embarking on the tour, and all are looking forward to returning home
	to the venue.
	
	Shannon Gildea, an ETT troupe member said the voices cast had a
great
	time performing for at the Unitarian Church in Lacombe.
	
	"There was so much positive energy in the audience and in all who
was
	involved. We enjoyed performing on the road, but there's something
	magic about coming home and performing for your community after a
long
	journey. It's a great venue with good vibes. We're looking forward
to
	it," she said.
	
	The VOICES OF LOUISIANA, written by Arabi playwright Barry Lemoine
	(creator of the acclaimed AN EVENING WITH BETSY; VOICES FROM THE
	STORM) is a fast-paced, hysterical, and historical exploration of
the
	relevance of the Louisiana territory to the country's past, present,
	and future. It begins as a carnival sideshow that chronicles the
	negotiations behind the land deal of the century, including
Columbus's
	landing in the New World, Jefferson's political ploys, Napoleon's
	bathtub pronouncement, and the Queen of Spain's comic intrigues. The
	production then gives voice to rich characters such as Huey P. Long,
	Emeril, Truman Capote, Anne Rice, Richard Simmons, Britney Spears,
and
	Ellen DeGeneres, that continue to make Louisiana a colorful and
	intriguing part of the nation's landscape.
	
	Through monologues and vignettes, VOICES OF LOUISIANA concludes with
	stories about both the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita
and
	the resilience of the people of Louisiana, including original
stories
	from hurricane survivors, putting faces to the tragedy. It drives
home
	the fact that just as the acquisition of Louisiana was critical to
the
	nation's past, so too will its rebirth be to the future.
	
	Members of the traveling Troupe, mostly from St. Bernard Parish, are
	local actors and educators who were greatly impacted by Hurricane
	Katrina. Members include Lemoine, Shannon Gildea, Christian
Bordelon,
	Will Schneider, Katie Betz and Northshore residents Rose Marie Sand
	and Tom Hassinger.
	
	Traveling with the tour are two photos exhibits. First is called
"Why
	I Stayed" by well-known New Orleans photographer, Tracie Morris
	Schaefer. Schaefer along with a number of local journalists
	interviewed and captured the essence of the people of New Orleans,
	sharing their Katrina journeys, putting a face to the tragedy and to
	the question of why they stayed.
	
	
	Also, Washington photographer Piper Hansen donated her photos from
St.
	Bernard Parish, which also capture the reality of the devastation of
	that community.
	
	An original painting by Northshore artist Priscilla Betz, was
donated
	to Chicago State University and is now hanging in their new library
	and performance space.
	About the Voices Foundation and The Evacuation Theatre Troupe: The
	mission of the non-profit Voices Foundation is to gather stories and
	histories and present them through theatrical productions and
	educational programs that are cultural, historic, and artistic,
	keeping traditions alive by sharing them for the entertainment of
all
	people.
	
	Proceeds from the show will help support the Milton Sand Scholarship
	fund, which awarded two students with scholarships in June 2006. For
	more information about VOICES, check out the website at
	www.voicesoflouisiana.org or call Rose Marie Sand at 504.666.1220.