2008 Woodie Awards
'Pentagon Papers' to debut at Miami
Anna Deeds
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: Campus
What's more important, protecting governmental secrets or freedom of speech?
These questions will be explored at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in Hall Auditorium, when the Miami University Performing Arts Series will be hosting the L.A. Theatre Works' docudrama (LATW), "Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers."
The play begins in Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee's home in the early 1970s, as he and his staff review the newly acquired Pentagon Papers-classified government documents that detailed the United States' involvement in Vietnam.
The documents had already been leaked to the press, and in 1971 the New York Times printed the first story about the documents before being suppressed by legal action.
The Washington Post took the story, leading to a historical Supreme Court case on the freedom of the press. The play goes into the courtroom, where justices debate how much is "too much" free speech.
Patti Liberatore, director of the Miami University Performing Arts Series said "Top Secret" is not a typical play or lecture.
"It bridges (the gap) between radio theater and a fully produced play," Liberatore said.
According to Liberatore, this gap is filled by combining verbal storytelling (a traditional radio broadcast) with costumes and props.
Because it is neither a play nor a lecture, assistant director David Sheldrick thinks that it will connect with the audience in a unique way.
"It's more then just words … it has visual that goes into it and creates an image," Sheldrick said.
In 1992, "Top Secret" premiered and was awarded "Best Radio Production of the Year" by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Sheldrick said Miami is excited to welcome the L.A. Theatre Works for its first visit to campus.
The show is written by Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons, and stars John Heard, Gregory Harrison and John Vickery.
Each actor will be well recognizable to students, due to their successes not only on the stage, but also in films and TV. Previous work includes Home Alone, White Chicks, the Broadway production of The Lion King and The Drew Carey Show.
Miami is the third stop on LATW's national fall tour. The tour is compiled of mostly universities, such as Stanford University and St. John's University, and other public theaters in Virginia, Arizona, Arkansas and Nebraska. The group will tour again in 2008.
Liberatore thinks that "Top Secret" is an interesting history lesson for students, yet is still entertaining, compelling and relatively modern.
"We're not talking about the American Revolution; we're talking about Vietnam," Liberatore said.
Sophomore Lisa Walsh agrees.
"It's important for our generation to keep talking about issues of our basic rights," Walsh said. "If we don't protect them, they could be taken away."
Tickets are $9 for students. A discount is also provided at the box office for students attending as part of a course curriculum.
These questions will be explored at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in Hall Auditorium, when the Miami University Performing Arts Series will be hosting the L.A. Theatre Works' docudrama (LATW), "Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers."
The play begins in Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee's home in the early 1970s, as he and his staff review the newly acquired Pentagon Papers-classified government documents that detailed the United States' involvement in Vietnam.
The documents had already been leaked to the press, and in 1971 the New York Times printed the first story about the documents before being suppressed by legal action.
The Washington Post took the story, leading to a historical Supreme Court case on the freedom of the press. The play goes into the courtroom, where justices debate how much is "too much" free speech.
Patti Liberatore, director of the Miami University Performing Arts Series said "Top Secret" is not a typical play or lecture.
"It bridges (the gap) between radio theater and a fully produced play," Liberatore said.
According to Liberatore, this gap is filled by combining verbal storytelling (a traditional radio broadcast) with costumes and props.
Because it is neither a play nor a lecture, assistant director David Sheldrick thinks that it will connect with the audience in a unique way.
"It's more then just words … it has visual that goes into it and creates an image," Sheldrick said.
In 1992, "Top Secret" premiered and was awarded "Best Radio Production of the Year" by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Sheldrick said Miami is excited to welcome the L.A. Theatre Works for its first visit to campus.
The show is written by Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons, and stars John Heard, Gregory Harrison and John Vickery.
Each actor will be well recognizable to students, due to their successes not only on the stage, but also in films and TV. Previous work includes Home Alone, White Chicks, the Broadway production of The Lion King and The Drew Carey Show.
Miami is the third stop on LATW's national fall tour. The tour is compiled of mostly universities, such as Stanford University and St. John's University, and other public theaters in Virginia, Arizona, Arkansas and Nebraska. The group will tour again in 2008.
Liberatore thinks that "Top Secret" is an interesting history lesson for students, yet is still entertaining, compelling and relatively modern.
"We're not talking about the American Revolution; we're talking about Vietnam," Liberatore said.
Sophomore Lisa Walsh agrees.
"It's important for our generation to keep talking about issues of our basic rights," Walsh said. "If we don't protect them, they could be taken away."
Tickets are $9 for students. A discount is also provided at the box office for students attending as part of a course curriculum.
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