FREE STAGED READING • FRIDAY, MARCH 7, at 7:30 PM
WORDS FROM THE FRONT
a play by Nancy A. Herman and Lynda Sorensen
Lynda and I began to write Words from the Front in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. Words from the Front is a unique presentation. It began to take shape at the very
beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, and is epistolary in nature,
bringing to life a collection of actual text messages, Facebook posts and emails that have
been exchanged in real time between one of the authors and her daughter, and their
friends and family in Russia and Ukraine. In Words from the Front, Russians give voice to
their fears and their hopes, and a Ukrainian soldier, defending his country, conveys an
irrepressible optimism in spite of the tragedies unfolding day by day. – Nancy A. Herman
TESTIMONIALS
The script was brilliant, the performances were exceptional, and the multimedia
components tied everything together beautifully. You’ve created something truly
special. – Rebecca H.
Today’s performance was so powerful. – Holly J.
Thank you for the play! That was incredibly great performance! (sic) We were shaken. We were crying, laughing, and again crying……You and your actors touched our souls and filled our hearts with understanding….Thank you for all you have done! – Ian and Veronika L, Ukrainian couple
Really amazing performance. Very moving. Completely succeeded. –
Melissa S.
Thank you for bringing this to us. At times I could barely breathe. – Jeanne J.
I’m so glad that I attended your presentation. It was so emotional for me! By relaying
the experiences of your friends and family in Russia and Ukraine you gave us an
understanding of what they are confronting. Your communication with them
encompassed such compassion and love. – Val S.
A truly thought-provoking evening…. – Pam S
I love the message of wishes for love and peace by Russians and Ukrainians for each
other. It’s a powerful piece. – Sue H.
Nancy A. Herman
Nancy has a BFA in Acting from the University of Connecticut and an MA in Educational Theatre from New York University. For thirty-five years she taught English and Theatre at Darien High School, and was director of its award-winning theatre program, Theatre 308. During her tenure there she directed over seventy productions, many of which went on to win awards from the Connecticut Drama Association and the New England Drama Association. She also spent ten years as the Artistic Director of the Musical Theatre Workshop, a summer program for children ages 8 – 18. Nancy served as the President and Vice President of the Connecticut Drama Association; earned the CEMA/SIRS Award for Intellectual Freedom, and the Connecticut Arts Administrators Association Award for Outstanding Contributions in Arts Advocacy; and created and directed the Theatre 308/Moscow Class Centre International Theatre Exchange Program. She’s been honored with a National Outstanding Teacher Award and with the Young Connecticut Playwrights Association “Dedicated Teacher” Award. Retired now from teaching, she enjoys chairing the MAC’s Eastbound Theatre in Milford, working part-time as a Standardized Patient for the Yale School of Medicine, sailing and playing tennis, and writing and collaborating with her friend and co-author Lynda..
Lynda Sorensen
Lynda is a former English teacher at Darien High School where she taught literature and creative writing. While at DHS, she codirected the Darien-China Exchange for a decade, from its inception in 2001 when DHS was awarded a US State Department grant to create an exchange with the Shanghai #3 Girls’ School, an effort that fostered understanding and friendship among young adults from both nations. During her last two years in the Darien Public School system, Lynda was the Teacher Leader of Fitch Academy, an off-campus alternative learning program. While teaching in Darien, Lynda also served on the faculty of Bard College’s Language and Thinking Institute and co-edited On This Crust of Earth, a collection of poems written by Fairfield County poets. In her retirement, Lynda is the president of GraceWorks, a non-profit foundation that supports the education of children in India, Kenya, and Tanzania. She also serves on the State of Connecticut Judicial Review Council. Mostly, she values collaborating and writing with Nancy.