Performance at the University of South Dakota
Words of Choice is a dynamic pro-choice theatre performance – smart, funny, endangered. Created by Cindy Cooper, it weaves together a dozen stories of women, men and reproductive rights.
A small acting ensemble brings to life a dozen powerful, poignant and comic stories in Words of Choice: a man describes his girlfriend’s near-death before abortion is made legal; a teenager tries to remember the name and phone number of a one-night stand; and a woman seeks swift divine intervention for a contraceptive need.
History
Words of Choice was first performed in 2000, and first touring in 2004 in Virginia and DC with VA NOW. See more about the writers included in this version of
Words of Choice.
In 2004, two casts toured 8 states, including Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey. In New York, an except was performed by Kathleen Turner at the Beacon Theatre, Stand Up for Choice. In 2005, performances traveled to Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, with a cast from St. Louis under the direction of Joan Lipkin. A performance in New York featured Emmy-Award winning performer Heather Tom and others.
In 2006, casts traveled to Iowa, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and, under the direction of Francesca Mantani Arkus, across the state of South Dakota before a vote on an abortion ban (it lost, thankfully). In 2007, we released our DVD, directed by Linda Haskins and distributed by the National Film Network, and we began a blog on creativity and choice.
From 2004-2007, the performances of Words of Choice and our DVD included the works of a dozen writers.
In 2008, again under the creative direction of Francesca Mantani Arkus,
we developed a series of workshops for new work mounted a second collection of works, called Words of Choice II: Let Reproductive Freedom Ring (See Selections). Francesca called it “a play of many tones.” We toured Colorado to oppose a ballot measure that would have outlawed all abortion, and to Kansas to support Dr. George Tiller and 1100 Torches in memory of Jana Mackey.
In 2009, our first collection of works was published in Front Lines: Political Plays by American Women. Words of Choice II was performed live on WBAI radio in honor of Dr. Tiller, also the subject of our essay in Women’s eNews, “Dr. Tiller Leaves His Attitude for Us to Carry On.” Words of Choice and Cindy Cooper, founder, were honored with the 2009 Anne E. Fisher Champion of Choice Award by NARAL Pro-Choice America. Words of Choice released its first promotional video, created by Diana Whitcroft.
In 2010, we continued our Creativity Workshops and performances, including at the Amnesty Human Rights Art Festival in Maryland, and other states We produced a video to draw attention to emerging reproductive health concerns in a campaign, TellWashingtonNow.com, in collaboration with Raising Women’s Voices, Physicians for Reproductive Choice, National Women’s Health Network, National Network of Abortion Funds and the Reproductive Health and Technologies Program. We did a series of performances in New York State — Long Island, Upstate and in the New York City.
In 2011, we did a series of performances in New Jersey, which suddenly found itself under siege by a newly-elected anti-abortion governor. In addition to raising awareness, events raised funds to help “Words of Choice” do outreach to embattled doctors. In July, we supported Dr. LeRoy Carhart, a doctor who had worked with Dr. George Tiller, in Germantown, MD, along with Summer of Choice/Summer of Trust, prochoice activities designed to fight back against anti-abortion protesters from Operation Rescue; we invited visual artist Heather Ault to display her work at the packed performance. We continued to produce short video projects with other pro-choice organizations. In March, the Social Justice Performers at the University of Missouri performed “Words of Choice I” from Frontlines, and Planned Parenthood held a special reception that Cooper attended.
Where to Find
Words of Choice is based in New York City. We have traveled to 20 states and worked with over 100 organizations to expand discussions about reproductive freedom. Contact information is here.
