Document Actions
LA Theatre Works
Susan Albert Loewenberg, Producing Director presents
Top Secret:The Battle for the Pentagon Papers
January 19, 2008 8:00pm
January 20, 2008 2:00pm
Pentagon Papers Flier (PDF)
Cast Bios
USC-Annenberg
School of Comm. Web Site for this
performance
LA TheatreWorks
Website
May we also recommend:
The incredible cast for this show includes includes several well-known and respected actors: John Heard (over 80 movie roles i.e. the dad in Home Alone, plus countless TV shows to include The Sopranos, for which he received an Emmy nomination) playing the lead role of Ben Bradlee, former Executive Editor of The Washington Post; Shannon Cochran (dozens of TV shows) playing Katherine Graham, famed publisher of The Washington Post; John Vickery (well known stage and TV actor); and Gregory Harrison (many TV roles, national tour of Chicago,
and many films.) The cast also includes several other well known faces
from television.
The story behind this production:
In a democratic society, should a government be allowed to protect secrets in the name of national security if those secrets are used to cover up politically damaging actions taken by that government? This riveting production provides an inside look at The Washington Post's 1971 decision to publish the top secret study, The Pentagon Papers, documenting U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The subsequent trial tested the parameters of the First Amendment, pitting the public's right to know against the government's desire for secrecy. The epic legal battle between the government and the press went to the nation's highest court- arguably the most important Supreme Court case ever on freedom of the press.
Pre-show discussion: The Asheville Citizen-Times sponsors a pre-performance discussion with a member of its editorial staff and a presentation by Asheville media expert Cleve Mathews who was working for first The New York Times and then in Washington DC at the time of the Pentagon Papers publication, and who knew many of the key people involved. 7p.m. on January 19 and at 1p.m. on January 20 in The Forum at Pack Place. Free for ticket holders.
The Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California has created a web site www.topsecretplay.org specifically for this production and tour. This site is a great source for historical background, discussion, and current political relevance.
