Evento

Stuff Happens

Arclight Repertory Theatre of San Jose and the San Pedro Square Market are partnering on this special event to honor the men and women of the Bay Area who served in the Iraq War (2003 2011). Arclight Rep will mark the 9th anniversary of the invasion with a staged reading of David Hare's provocative play, STUFF HAPPENS.

The play takes its title from then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's comment: "Stuff happens . . . And it's untidy, and freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things." following the looting and chaos in Baghdad after the initial invasion.

Using direct quotes from interviews and public appearances, combined with the playwright's nuanced reimagining of what went on behind closed doors in the Bush White House, Hare creates a historical narrative and human drama that presents the Iraqi conflict in all of its complexity. STUFF HAPPENS offers multiple perspectives from international leaders, journalists, Iraqi refugees and others.

The play raises serious questions about American foreign policy decisions, the limits of secret intelligence, and the human cost of war on all sides.

The purpose of the reading is to raise awareness of the anniversary and its legacy, to honor our veterans who served, to raise much needed funds for the Veteran's Center and its vital programs, and to provide a forum for reflection and understanding. All veterans and their families are welcome to attend as guests and will be invited to share their perspective and experiences following the reading.

The general public, community leaders and elected officials will also be invited to speak to the issues raised by the play in this creative forum.