Supporting our troops on Veterans Day November 11, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Crime and punishment at Morton West, Drama in Wilton.1 comment so far
Nine months ago this coming Tuesday, Timothy Canty, the principal of Wilton High School in my home town of Wilton, Connecticut, rescinded permission for the school’s Theater Arts II class to perform “Voices In Conflict”, a staged recitation of letters from soldiers and participants in the Iraq War.
NCAC to honor Voices In Conflict cast October 29, 2007
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Larry Horne at 212-807-6222 x17 or lhorne@ncac.org
Wilton, Connecticut Students to be Honored in Free Speech Gala Event
New York, NY – On November 6, 2007, as part of its 4th annual Celebration of Free Speech and Its Defenders, The National Coalition Against Censorship will honor Wilton High School theater arts teacher Bonnie Dickinson and her students, for their courage and determination to write and perform “Voices in Conflict,” a play about the war in Iraq.
A letter to Gary Richards September 15, 2007
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Dr. Gary Richards
Superintendent of Schools
Wilton Public Schools
395 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897
Re: Bonnie Dickinson
Dear Dr. Richards:
As you know, Bonnie Dickinson has been a teacher in Wilton Schools since 1993. She has, as you do, copies of all of her evaluations and staff appraisals dating back to 1997. Each evaluation by the high school administrative staff concludes with Ms. Dickinson being referred to as an excellent, organized and supportive teacher.
Voices In Conflict: the Empire strikes back September 1, 2007
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As the dog days of summer wane, high school students shop for clothes and supplies, bus drivers plan their routes, teachers prepare lesson plans …
… and in Wilton, Connecticut, the superintendent of schools and his flunkies get into character by lying like a GOP senator caught in an airport bathroom.
Patriotism, 2007 July 4, 2007
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The Wilton High School Theater Arts II class will be giving what will most likely be their final performances of Voices In Conflict, on July 11 through 13, at the Vineyard Theater in Manhattan.
It’s catching on June 27, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Drama in Wilton.1 comment so far
You let a bunch of snotnosed, liberal high-school kids stage a play about the Iraq war, and the next thing you know, this kind of thing starts happening …
“You take that play somewhere else!” June 23, 2007
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I didn’t think anything could have bettered Amy Goodman’s interview with cast members of Voices In Conflict, but Erika Hiyazaki’s piece in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times is the best account I’ve read of just what Bonnie Dickinson’s Theater Arts II went through, and why the Wilton school administration, and some of their fellow students, ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Voices in Conflict on Democracy Now June 21, 2007
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A week ago I posted a link to Amy Goodman‘s syndicated article on the Culture Project performance of Voices In Conflict.
From her program Democracy Now, here is Goodman’s in-depth interview with VIC director Bonnie Dickinson, choreographer Courtney Stack, cast member James Presson and Charlie Anderson, who Presson portrayed in Voices In Conflict.
Welcome news from the Wilton Board of Censorship Education
June 19, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Drama in Wilton, Theater.
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One of the clouds that’s been hanging over the Voices In Conflict matter has been the Board of Education’s response to the accusations of Wilton High School parent Barbara Alessi against theater teacher/VIC director Bonnie Dickinson (right). Alessi’s charges, and an editorial supporting them, were published in the April 5 edition of the Wilton Bulletin, Wilton’s “newspaper of record”.
“What we saw tonight was the reason to have a theater” June 19, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Drama in Wilton, Theater.1 comment so far
Every time I start wondering if the Voices In Conflict saga has lost its capacity to fascinate and move me …
Voices in the newspapers of record June 14, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Drama in Wilton, Theater.3 comments
The New York Times has published a followup article by Melena Ryzik about the June 9 Vineyard Theater performance of Voices In Conflict.
And then there’s the Wilton Bulletin, “newspaper of record” for the Connecticut town whose Board Of Education prohibited performance of the play that has now become the hottest ticket on off-Broadway.
“Voices In Conflict” encore performance in Fairfield June 13, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Drama in Wilton, Theater.2 comments
The Wilton High School students involved in the play, “Voices in Conflict,” will return to the stage at the Fairfield Theatre Company for an encore performance on Friday, June 22. The play begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $7 for members of the theater.
Voices on video June 12, 2007
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In conjunction with their print interviews with six VIC cast members, the Fairfield Weekly posted a video on their website including clips from the production:
(more…)
“What you and your students have done is what we fight to protect” June 10, 2007
Posted by Jeff in "Reality has a well-known liberal bias", "Voices Of Conflict", Drama in Wilton, Theater.1 comment so far
Bonnie,
Thank you and your students for one of the Greatest experiences of my life! I have never felt so much pride for having served in the military as I did when I left the theatre last night. You and your students have worked so hard and have endured so much in the way of hardship, censorship and ignorance in order to put this performance on and I am greatfull you did, because I left last night with a renwed sense of hope for our youth and the future of our country. They reminded me of the pride I felt as I served and what it means to me to wear the uniform. They have personified the Army core values and through your leadership have put then into action in order to get to that stage and in my eyes that makes all of you true patriots. I speak for all in uniform when I say; “what you and your students have done is what we fight to protect” and if what I have done with my service in Iraq has helped ensure the right of you and your students to put on your production then it was all worth it and I would do it all again if I had to. Thank you !!!!
[name withheld]
Connecticut Army National Guard
p.s.
I would love to get back to see tonite’s performance but I don’t think I can make it in time for the 5 pm show. I have been trying to reschedule my afternoon with no luck so far and I think tonite is out for me. However I will be at the Sunday nite show with my wife as well as the one on the15th keep up the good work I am proud of you all.
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