Seven: Art at Work for Human Rights and Social Justice
Visions and Voices: The USC Arts & Humanities Initiative
Summary:
Based on personal interviews, this collaborative documentary theater piece tells the stories of seven incredible women who are campaigning for human rights around the globe.
Description:
“Riveting, explosive and inspiring drama ... starkly emotive ... reaffirm[s] the belief that one person could indeed make a difference.” — The Huffington Post
“It was impossible not to be inspired by the widely varying examples of courage that the project corralled.” — The Washington Post
Seven is a collaborative documentary theater piece written by seven award-winning female playwrights. Based on personal interviews, it tells the stories of seven incredible women from around the world who have faced risks to themselves and their families to take on human rights abuses in their countries. One of the women set up the first domestic-violence crisis center in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union, even as the government denied the existence of such abuse. Another woman, in Pakistan, refused to remain silent after she was raped, demanding justice; she later opened a school so that young girls would no longer be victimized because of illiteracy. Still another returned to Cambodia after her parents had been killed by the Khmer Rouge to work against human trafficking. In the interwoven stories, what emerges is a connection of common purpose, determination and courage.
The groundbreaking play was written by Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith and Susan Yankowitz.
Related Event
March 19, 3-5:30 p.m. Theater for Social Change Workshop
Doheny Memorial Library, Friends Lecture Hall, Room 240
Join us for an introductory workshop in applied theater arts and learn how to use theater techniques to explore social justice issues that matter to you. The workshop will be led by Rebecca Struch (M.A., Applied Theater Arts, USC 2011).
Organized by Lora Zane (Theatre), Paula Cizmar (Theatre), Brent Blair (Theatre), Ange-Marie Hancock (Political Science and Gender Studies) and Michael Messner (Sociology). Co-sponsored by El Centro Chicano, the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, the Latina/o Student Assembly, Take Back the Night, the Women’s Student Association and the Black Entertainment and Theatrical Association.