Editor's note: Due to concerns about coronavirus, this event has been canceled.
March is Women’s History Month. In honor of celebrating women’s vital role in not just U.S., but world history, five Minnesota performing art centers — including Detroit Lakes' own Historic Holmes Theatre — will be presenting a touring production of "SEVEN," a riveting documentary play written by seven female writers based on personal interviews with seven remarkable women.
The seven women profiled in this play faced life-threatening obstacles before bringing heroic changes to their home countries of Pakistan, Nigeria, Ireland, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Russia and Cambodia. Produced by LA Theatre Works , the play makes the powerful and timeless statement that even in the darkest times, one person, one voice, and a single act of courage can change the lives of thousands.
Susan Loewenberg, producing director of LA Theatre Works, discussed "SEVEN" at length in a telephone interview earlier this week.
"SEVEN is a project which started about 7 or 8 years ago," she said, when a playwright named Carol K. Mack first came up with the concept and approached the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership with the possibility of funding it.
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The organization agreed to sponsor the project, and Mack enlisted the help of fellow playwrights Anna Deavere Smith , Paula Cizmar , Catherine Filloux , Gail Kriegel , Ruth Margraff and Susan Yankowitz to interview Marina Pisklakova-Parker (Russia), Mu Sochua (Cambodia), Anabella De Leon (Guatemala), the late Inez McCormack (Northern Ireland), Farida Azizi (Afghanistan), Hafsat Abiola (Nigeria) and Mukhtar Mai (Pakistan), and weave them together to create a truly unique narrative.
"Their stories are so compellingly told by these absolutely lovely women," said Loewenberg.
After several years of being performed at venues all over the world, and translated into over 20 languages, LA Theatre Works decided to make "SEVEN" into a professional production of their own, starring
"This year I thought it would be a great idea to tour 'SEVEN,' playing in 30 cities all over the United States," said Loewenberg, adding that the tour was originally slated to last through April.
Unfortunately, due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the Minnesota leg of the tour will likely be the last, she added.
"The tour is going to end before we thought it would," she said, adding that many of the venues are canceling performances because of coronavirus concerns.
"We'll probably be going home after Minnesota," said Loewenburg, adding that the Holmes Theatre show "might be our last gig."
As has become tradition at most of the stops on this tour, she said, the actors will be doing a "talk back" with audience members who choose to stay after the show to ask questions and learn more about the production.
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CANCELED
What: LA Theatre Works Presents "SEVEN"
When: Thursday, March 19, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes
Details: Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students — or buy one adult ticket at full price and get a second student ticket for free. To purchase, call 218-844-7469, visit www.dlccc.org/holmes-theatre.html or stop by the box office at 806 Summit Ave.
More Info: seventheplay.com
