THE LYSISTRATA PROJECT:
TAKING OVER THE WORLD WITH READINGS OF ARISTOPHANES’ ANTI-WAR DRAMA
On Monday, March 3rd, the first ever worldwide theatrical protest will take place in 36 countries, and 49 U.S. States. Known as the Lysistrata Project, this protest will take the form of public theatrical readings of Aristophanes’ anti-war play
Lysistrata.
The main goal of the Project is to voice opposition to the war on Iraq. To date, there are 18 readings in Chicago alone, in pretty much every neighborhood. The readings are being done to raise money for charities committed to providing humanitarian aid in the Middle East. Lysistrata is the story of a group of women from warring states who decide to withhold sex from their husbands until they agree to lay down their swords.
With the growing opposition to what many consider an inevitable war against Iraq, and with President Bush shrugging off anti-war protests, the Lysistrata Project will serve as a formal, public protest against the Bush administration’s efforts to convince the world that this war is necessary. Actress Julie Christie, a participant in a reading on the West Coast, said "At least for the record of history we have to let it be known that millions and millions opposed this war." 
People will be mobilizing worldwide to take part in the Project. Students at a conservative Texas college will hold reading marathons; a Beirut man will present his own adaptation of the play that incorporates Arabic and English anti-war poetry; teachers will use the Lysistrata Project’s study guide in their classes; home-based book clubs will read the play aloud, and a California woman will stage a reading in a hospital where her partner is undergoing cancer treatment.
The Lysistrata Project was started in January by New York actors Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower. According to Blume, “before we started Lysistrata Project, we could do nothing but sit and watch in horror as the Bush Administration drove us toward a unilateral attack on Iraq, so we emailed all our friends and put up a web site. The response has been enormous.” Enormous indeed. The number of readings is literally increasing by the hour. To date, North Dakota remains the only U.S. State that has not announced participation in the Project.
All readings are free of charge, but donations are encouraged. Donations collected for all Chicago readings go to Not in Our Name, a Chicago-based peace initiative.
For more information, see the following web sites:
Lysistrata Project Home:
www.lysistrataproject.com
Chicago Lysistrata Project:
www.lysistratachicago.homestead.com
Not in Our Name:
www.notinourname.net
Here is a list of Chicago Readings on March 3, 2003:
CHICAGO
LAKEVIEW
Lake View Presbyterian Church
with Margaret Scott as Lysistrata
716 West Addison Street
7:30pm
MAG MILE
Circus-Szalewski
with Lori McClain as Lysistrata
at 535 N. Michigan
33rd Floor (open to residents of the building and their guests)
7pm
ST. BEN'S/NORTH CENTER
Running with Scissors/American Theatre Company
with Heather Hartley as Lysistrata
at ATC, 1909 W. Byron
7:30pm
LINCOLN PARK
Goodbar (hosted by FreeandCheapTheatre.com)
with Monica Payne as Lysistrata
2512 N. Halsted
7:30pm
ROSCOE VILLAGE
Greasy Joan & Co.
with Hollis Resnik as Lysistrata!!!
at the Viaduct Theatre,
3111 N. Western Ave
7:30pm
WRIGLEYVILLE
Stockyards Theatre Project
with Katie Carey Govier as Lysistrata
at Stage Left Theatre
3408 N. Sheffield
7:30pm
RAVENSWOOD (Yours truly is participating in this reading)
New World Repertory Company
with Alyson Green as Lysistrata
at Remy Bumppo
3717 N. Ravenswood, Suite 246
7:30pm
LOOP
European Repertory Company
at the Museum of Contemporary Art
In conjunction with their exhibit,"WAR--What is it good for?"
with Carolyn Hoerdemann as Lysistrata
220 E. Chicago Avenue
8pm
LINCOLN PARK
Theatre School at DePaul University
with Jessica Campbell as Lysistrata
Francis Parker School Auditorium
330 W. Webster Avenue (Webster & Clark)
7:30pm
LINCOLN PARK #2
Holy Covenant United Methodist Church (rear entrance is handicap accessible)
925 W. Diversey
7:30pm
NAVY PIER
with space donated by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
with Karen Aldridge as Lysistrata
at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Avenue
Rehearsal Hall
4pm
ANDERSONVILLE
Andersonville Neighbors for Peace
with Lesley Bevan as Lysistrata
at the Neo-Futurarium
5153 N. Ashland
7pm
ROSCOE VILLAGE/WEST LAKEVIEW
Saint Sebastian Players
with Jill Chukerman Test as Lysistrata
St. Bonaventure Church
1641 W. Diversey
7:30pm
ROGERS PARK
Stage Rage
at The Heartland Cafe
7000 N. Glenwood
8pm
UPTOWN
Red Path Theater Company
at Truman College (Novar Hall, 3rd Floor)
1145 W. Wilson (at Broadway)
7pm
SUBURBS
EVANSTON
Social Action Committee of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
303 Dodge, Evanston
with Isabel Liss as Lysistrata
Free Parking
Refreshments & discussion to follow
7pm
BATAVIA
All Dressed Up
with Marjorie Gustafson as Lyisstrata
150 S. Water Street, Batavia
8 pm
In case you’re not free on March 3rd, you can attend the following reading, which is audience participation:
Sunday, March 2nd @ 6:30pm:
WICKER PARK
The Pirate Puppet Playhouse
1257 N. Maplewood #3R (corner of Maplewood & Potomac)
Participatory Reading--scripts (and crayons!) provided.
Discussion and refreshments to follow.
RSVP (not necessary, but welcome) to Katya at: squidonfire@yahoo.com or 773.772.9228
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