Theatre Walks Freedom's Talk: We are Free to Be & Free to Read!
ASSERT the First Amendment with public readings of Banned Books
The Kennedy Center is not a building, it is the People's PROOF we are FREE, a monument to our patriotic integrity.
I know what it is to face annihilation. That is why I have invested decades of sweat equity and tens of thousands of dollars over the years on all of you, dear Las Vegas Arts lovers. Squander of humanity happens when there is denial of Truth. I became a Theatre acolyte to prevent it, to help do hard things, to create hope, and leverage love in the balance of empowerment. Theatre eliminates distance between difference. It's the first and last defense of humanity, "Please, Help Me. Stop, don't shoot." One act of Theatre proves that the 5 Freedoms of the First Amendment are protected, ensuring that reality informs the People's sense of Truth: Belief, Expression, Press, Assembly, and Advocacy.
The current President has illegally CLOSED the People's public square dedicated to acts of Theatre and dignity, patriotic dissent, free expression, and intellectual freedom. Hard is hard is hard. What's easy for you may be hard for me. That makes us different, but we all share the knowledge of what it feels like when something is hard, or painful to do. Help makes hard doable. Hope makes hard possible. Love makes hard worth it, its solutions are renewable Energy; giving and receiving with intention, maintaining integrity together, balance. Democracy is essential for every person to discern fact from fantasy, establish protections, and solve problems. Without cooperation, our learned helplessness grows as dignity, security, and prosperity are erased.
Theatre Artists conjure the strength of a character's integrity from within, resisting adversity to rebalance power. We learned to do so in an unbroken chain of cultural evolution, and collaborative practice from patriotic Masters to whom we owe our embodied knowledge, cultural memory, and acts of courage. It's not my call whom you vote for, but Theatre companies, writers, and performing artists who remain silent don't deserve your donations; they are fundraising off of stolen valor, not serving their missions in good faith as independent USA artists.
If the Kennedy Center, a national cultural monument in defiance of assassination, is shuttered at the President's whim, then we are not living in a Free society. The working-class poet and mom, Renee Good was shot in the face on the same whim for protesting ICE abuse.
Bernie Sanders muddies the waters with Steve Bannon and Moms for Liberty at an anti-AI rally instead of rejecting censorship in front of the Kennedy Center, when they are, as was the NRA before, shills for the Heritage Foundation now recruiting Millennials responsible for its culture war closure. WE DON'T NEED TO SELL OUT TO CENSORS, THEY NEED US TO SURVIVE AI.
I became an international AI Policy analyst advising UNESCO to make sure that Artists and the Public can grab hold of it. OUR LIVES NEED THE EMPOWERMENT OF THEATRE, NOW. Stick with Artistic Leaders who community work more than they fundraise if you want the wisdom to live.
The First Amendment, Five Freedoms, and Three Things
The First Amendment in the US Constitution grants all residents Five Freedoms: Belief, Speech, Press, Peaceful Assembly, and to Petition Government. Our Right to Learn is our Right to Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness
Free expression is a human right.
The Asylum Theatre believes that art belongs to everyone, serving as a haven for artists' voices committed to nurturing an inclusive community that celebrates, values, and advances diversity. The more diverse the voices and perspectives in and around our work, the more empowering and democratizing the arts become as a tool to inspire individuals, unite communities, and nourish the human experience.
Culture is the legacy and reflection of Humanity.
The current US Administration has issued executive orders to threaten libraries, schools, theatres, museums, and parks that hold the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion with investigations, and cuts. Events, books, and programs have been banned at federally funded local arts programs across the country, and right here in Nevada which hurts communities, and violates our right to Free Expression and Academic Independence as 501 (c)3 organizations and American artists.
For the past 4 years, The Asylum has proudly presented FREE TO READ at the public library's request to highlight Banned Books Week. This documentary theatre piece presents actors reading excerpts from banned or challenged books alongside transcripts of public comments from library and school board meetings around the country. THE LIBRARY DID NOT FUND FREE TO READ THIS YEAR!
It only takes three things to commit an act of theatre: an actor, a witness, and a shared space.
Theatre is the embodiment of the First Amendment; speaking Truth to power, assembled peacefully in a public space. You can assert a belief in diversity, provide education, defeat censorship and commit your own act of theatre, just grab a favorite banned book and start reading out loud!
Do it at your local library, in book clubs, at the bus stop, in a park, or walking down the street. Would you like to present FREE TO READ in your own community? We welcome you to use our script and powerpoint with visuals. Just be sure to credit "Created by Sarah O'Connell and The Asylum Theatre" in your P/R; include #ChooseTheDream, #FreeToRead, and our website asylumtheatre.org. Email director@asylumtheatre.org with any questions. We are here to support you.
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