March 4th Update
Hello all,
Thank you for being so patient with lack of communication over the last few days. As you can imagine, things were happening fast and furiously and we needed a little time to sort out details before we could let you know concretely what was going on. But now, finally, it’s time to get concrete and to start moving fast!
Summary:
The “Rachel’s Words” initiative has several components; world-wide actions on March 16th and a New York performance event on March 22nd. We have been invited to host a reading of Rachel’s Words at the Made in Palestine Art Exhibition in New York, date to be determined. There are more components in the works—this is continuing to snowball!
March 16th Actions:
- On March 16th, the 3rd anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s death, we are asking groups and individuals world-wide to build an event around reading/performing Rachel’s words or incorporate her words into an already planned action.
- This action will, hopefully, happen in cities and communities all over the world; from New York to Los Angeles to Amsterdam to Rafah to Tel Aviv. Rachel’s words and her message, on March 16th, will be everywhere.
- Please document these actions so they can be folded into the event on the 22nd. (more info on that below)
- Selections from Rachel’s writings and possibly video materials will be made available. (more info on that below)
- Copies of the script of “My Name is Rachel Corrie” will be available for people to purchase (to read only; we do NOT have the rights to perform it!)
- We are asking that the New York Theatre Workshop is not targeted specifically in these actions but rather that we highlight Rachel’s words themselves and the larger questions of why and how voices such as Rachel’s are silenced.
March 22nd Performance Event:
- March 22nd is the date that “My Name is Rachel Corrie” was supposed to open at the New York Theatre Workshop, so it is fitting that her words are heard in a large event in New York on that date. Additionally, it will allow us to include footage from the world-wide actions on March 16th in the event.
- Alan Rickman and Megan Dodds are not able to come themselves to the event, or give rights to the play “My Name is Rachel Corrie” but they and the Royal Court Theatre are fully behind what we are doing. Alan is going to send a message for the event on video and the theatre is going to try to film Megan acting segments of the play to use.
- The event itself will include dramatic readings of Rachel’s e-mails performed by high-profile New York actors and possibly video footage of Rachel as a young child.
- The event will also include video footage of the actions taken around the world on March 16th, so that the audience sees and hears Rachel’s words as read and heard all over the world.
- We are making arrangements and trying to get the necessary permissions to broadcast this event world-wide—so just as world-wide actions from March 16th are incorporated into this event, the event itself will be “available” world-wide.
Resources:
- We are compiling a list of Rachel’s writings that will be made available on the Rachel’s Words web-page for actions on March 16. (www.RachelsWords.org). There may possibly be video available as well.
Statement:
In our initial call to action, we asked people and groups to sign onto this initiative. Many people have asked what exactly they are signing onto. We will put into words in the next 24 hours the official statement behind the event. Groups and/or individuals will then be asked to officially endorse this. After we post the official statement, we will compile the list of those endorsing, send it out and update it regularly.
Who’s On Board:
There have been a tremendous number of people from many places who have shown support for this initiative and are interested in organizing an action on the 16th. Cities/states/countries where we’ve heard from people who are interested are: New York; Jerusalem; Iowa; Seattle; Taos; Chicago; Connecticut; Vermont; Detroit; Washington DC; Los Angeles; San Francisco; New Jersey; Germany; Montreal; Minneapolis; Boston; Kansas; Florida; Texas; Kansas; Louisville; St. Louis; Portland, OR; Amsterdam; Surinam; Egypt and Oaxaca, Mexico. Please forward this to other people you think may be interested in organizing an action and ask them to look at the webpage for more information!
Communication:
- We will continue to update the www.RachelsWords.org webpage regularly.
- We are creating a mailing list for updates on the Rachel’s Words initiative—if you are receiving this from us directly, you are already on our mailing list. If you want to be deleted from this list, please contact us and put MAILING LIST in the subject.
- If this was forwarded to you and you want to be added to our mailing list, please contact us and put MAILING LIST in the subject.
- The rachelswords@yahoogroups.com list-serve is now being turned into a tool for those planning actions on March 16th to brainstorm together, share resources, etc. If you want to be added or deleted from this list-serve, please contact us and put LIST-SERVE in the subject.
- If you are planning an action for March 16th, please write an e-mail telling us where you are and describing the action so it can be posted on the webpage. Please put PLANNING AN ACTION in the subject and let us know how people in your city who want to help can contact you.
- If you want to obtain copies of the script of “My Name is Rachel Corrie” to sell at your action, please send an e-mail and put NEED SCRIPTS in the subject. (Note: These would be for reading or distribution only. No performances of the script can be held without the Royal Court Theatre’s permission. Tell us asap, as we have to place a bulk order to London.)
- If you want to offer support for the New York based event on March 22nd, please send an e-mail and put MARCH 22 in the subject.
- If you have general questions/comments/concerns, then please send them as well…and put whatever you like in the subject!
In solidarity,
Ann Petter and Jen Marlowe
Rachel’s Words
rachels_words@yahoo.com
www.RachelsWords.org
