Free Event: Veteran Voices presented by Trinity Rep

Trinity Repertory Company and the Providence Clemente Veterans’ Initiative (PCVI) present the fourth annual Veteran Voices event. Local veterans will share stories and performances at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum Metcalf Auditorium.

At the 2021 Veterans Voices event, Kevin 'Big Luxe' Luther performs an original piece based on his experiences in the U.S. military in Iraq. (Marisa Lenardson)

Over a dozen veterans local to southern New England will give readings and musical performances. Veteran Voices will also feature a reading of an excerpt from the world premiere of Someone Will Remember Us, opening at Trinity Rep in January. Someone Will Remember Us draws from real-life testimonials of veterans, refugees, and civilians following the Iraq War. 

“Through the PCVI, veterans use the humanities disciplines of literature, art, philosophy, history, and theater to explore their time in the military, and their readjustment to civilian life,” PCVI director Mark Santow said. “For many, these explorations are enormously powerful and healing, enabling them to not only to make sense of often soul-shaking experiences, but also to find a way to convey them to loved ones and the civilian community. We are proud to once again partner with Trinity Rep for the 4th annual Veteran Voices, lifting up the stories of Rhode Islanders who have served, and to bring it to a new space at RISD.” 

The Providence Clemente Veterans’ Initiative encourages and accepts applications from all veterans, regardless of race, gender identity, service years, deployment history, disability status, or discharge status.  The course is free and seeks to serve veterans who are challenged by their transition from soldier to civilian, and who are looking for an engaged community of peers to explore great moments of history, art, philosophy and literature. 

For those who aspire to attend college in the future, the Providence Clemente Veterans’ Initiative also offers an opportunity to experience a college classroom and earn transferable college credits at no cost, and without using any VA benefits. All books and instructional materials are provided free to participants.

Veteran Voices is an extension of Trinity Rep’s ongoing engagement with Rhode Island’s veteran community, The Green Light Ghost Light Project. Created to share veterans’ stories, the Green Light Ghost Light Project is a combination of the Greenlight a Vet initiative, in which communities light a green light to show support for veterans, and the Ghost Light Project, in which theaters leave a light on to signal that the theater is a safe space for all.  

 The fourth annual edition of this special event is free and open to the public. It will take place on Wednesday, November 13 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the RISD Museum Metcalf Auditorium. To learn more and RSVP, visit trinityrep.com/veterans.