News from KNOW — April 20, 2014

In this issue
Rachel Corrie play
new television series on Climate Change
local musician news
square dance
Muslim educational event
Michigan United news
MLK park maintenance
local climate change protester in jail

My Name is Rachel Corrie, a one­-woman play, is making its Kalamazoo debut performance at the newly renovated Ladies Library second floor auditorium, 333 South Park Street, on Sunday, April 27th at 2 pm. Tickets available at the door are $15, students are $5.

Rachel Corrie was an American who felt strongly about social injustice, and the play
describes the passion of this young peace activist. A bulldozer killed Rachel at 23­years­
old as she stood with a peace team, trying to save a house belonging to a Palestinian
doctor from an Israeli house demolition. The one­-woman play is performed by Ashley
Malloy, with words taken from Rachel’s own writings.

The play traces the development of conscience in this young person, as she starts to feel the suffering of others and takes on a deep conviction that she must do something to alleviate that suffering. British actor Alan Rickman and journalist Katherine Viner selected and edited Rachel’s words. The play particularly highlights Rachel’s actions to help Palestinians, but like The Diary of Anne Frank, the play’s message is universal. As Alan Rickman says, “Rachel Corrie lived in nobody’s pocket but her own. Whether one is
sympathetic with her or not, her voice is like a clarion in the fog and should be heard.”

From the time it opened at the Royal Court Theater in London in 2005, My Name is
Rachel Corrie has achieved much success for a small, one­-woman play. There have
been over 250 productions staged and many more scheduled this year. English
productions of the play have earned awards for Best Director, Best Production, Best Solo
Show, several awards for Best Actress, the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement
and the 2006 London Theatergoers Choice Award. Elysa Gardner of USA Today calls My
Name is Rachel Corrie, “Deeply, authentically human.” She goes on to say: “If Rachel
Corrie’s views provoke emotions and inspire debate, isn’t that part of the purpose of art?”

My Name is Rachel Corrie will be touring Michigan in April and has engagements
scheduled around the country through November. The play is presented locally with the
assistance of the Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War.

For more information, contact Daniel Smith (269)806-8477 or email:
daniel_b_smith@yahoo.com

A new television series started this Sunday, April 13, called The Years of Living Dangerously.  It airs on Showtime at 10pm eastern standard time.  It has real journalists and actors who have been involved in, for example, conservation efforts for decades (Harrison Ford) going around the world talking to people and showing the effects on them of drought, forest fires, Hurricane Sandy, etc.  Take a look, maybe we could organize watch parties.