Soldier’s Heart
Description
Before heading off to war in Iraq, Casey Johnson neatly organizes her life into a box of lists, envelopes, and registration forms for her son's activities. Months later, she returns to Western Pennsylvania forever changed, with deep psychological scars that no amount of arranging seems to be able to fix.
Production Info
Full Length Drama (about 100 minutes)
Minimal Set Requirements
Contemporary Costumes
Press Quotes
“Tammy Ryan’s poignant SOLIDER’S HEART shines a light on the struggles facing woman warriors โฆ a tense, raw, troubling and no-nonsense examination of what happens to soldiers, particularly female soldiers, serving in the military โฆ This is not an easy play to watch. Nor is it meant to be.” โAlice Carter, Tribune
“Portrayls of soldiers wrecked by war date to the ancient Greeks (see Aeschylus), but Ms Ryan adeptly reworks the time-tested recipe from a woman’s perspective to make it seem fresh again โฆ Briskly written in brief scenes that easily flash back and forth โฆ the subject of sexual assault in the military gives the play weight and merit. Ms. Ryan deftly layers critical incidents that culminate in a forceful climax โฆ Frank, colloquial language delivers a strong sense of spontaneity.” โMichael Sommers, New York Times
“Ryan brings a searing story to life about the high cost of war โฆ Ryan’s play could border on political [but] it’s all about relationships: what you give up in times of war and how families are destroyed in the process โฆ a disturbing, topical production, building on the terror and sacrifices that never-ending wars entail.” โLiz Keill, The Alternative Press
“Ryan brings a heart-wrenching experience into alignment with the blisteringly traumatic aftershock of rape โฆ It is a story worth telling.” โSimon Saltzman, Curtain Up
“Tammy Ryan has written an intense drama that grabs you from the first scene and doesn’t let go until the lights go down two hours later โฆ a story with a strong dramatic arc โฆ on an important subject with which we must deal decisively, now.” โRuth Ross, NJ Arts Maven
“โฆ richly nuanced, three-dimensional characters and a neatly constructed, riveting story. Ryan has done her homework.” โBob Rendell, Talkin’ Broadway
Author
Tammy RyanTAMMY RYAN's plays have been performed, commissioned and developed at theaters across the United States and internationally such as Alliance Theater, City Theater, Florida Stage, Marin Theater Company, People's Light, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Portland Stage Company among others. Honors include the American Theater Critics Association's Francesca Primus Prize for LOST BOY FOUND IN WHOLE FOODS, and the American Alliance of Theater in Education's Distinguished New Play Award for THE MUSIC LESSON. Ryan was named a 2020 Haas fellow for her play TAKE MY HAND AND WAVE GOODBYE. Other works include SEVEN COUSINS FOR A HORSE (Thrown Stone Theater), THE WAKE (Premiere Stages) MOLLY'S HAMMER (Repertory Theater of St. Louis), SOLDIER'S HEART (Pittsburgh Playhouse) and BABY'S BLUES (NCPA/Mumbai). Her work has received support from the National New Play Network, The New Harmony Project, The Sewanee Writers Conference, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation. She is an alumna of the Pittsburgh Public Theater's Playwrights Collective and a resident playwright at New Dramatists.
Book Information
| Publisher | BPPI |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 8/5/2016 |
| Pages | 80 |
| ISBN | 9780881456707 |
Special Notes
Originally produced by the Pittsburgh Playhouse of Point Park University, Conservatory of Performing Arts, Ronald Allan-Lindblom, Artistic Director, Earl Hughes Producing Director
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypublishing.com
