The Inspiration

The Actors Gang, a theatre company in Los Angeles, California founded by actor Tim Robbins, put together a very special reading of Daniel Berrigan's play based on his experience in the Catonsville incident. The All-Star Cast included the following:

The Court: Frances Conroy (Witness), Mike Farrell (Defense), Dakin Matthews (Judge), Tonya Pinkins (Prosecution).
The Defendants: Beau Bridges (John Hogan), Keith Carradine (Thomas Melville), Neil Patrick Harris (Thomas Lewis), Camryn Manheim (Mary Moylan), Sandra Oh (Marjorie Melville), Jason Ritter (David Darst), Tim Robbins (Philip Berrigan), Martin Sheen (Daniel Berrigan), Anthony Zerbe (George Mische).
Court Officers: Cynthia Ettinger, V.J. Foster, Brent Hinkley, Steve Porter.
The Jury: Mario Burrell, Emilia Herman, R.J. Jones, George Ketsios, Ethan Kogan, Nathan Kornelis, Melinda Moran, Mary Eileen O'Donnell, Lauren Oppelt, Donna Jo Thorndale, Toni Torres, Robert Williams.

Judith was truly moved by the staged reading, "The play is not so much about politics as about human decency."

The Incident

On May 17, 1968, nine men and women entered the Selective Service Offices in Catonsville, Maryland, removed several hundred draft records, and burned them with homemade napalm in protest against the war in Vietnam. The nine were arrested and, in a highly publicized trial, sentenced to jail.

The protestors were later identified as Philip Berrigan, Daniel Berrigan, David Darst, John Hogan, Tom Lewis, John Melville, Marjorie Melville, George Mische, and Mary Moylan.

This act of civil disobedience intensified protest against the draft, prompted debate in households in Maryland and across the nation, and stirred angry reaction on the part of many Americans. It also propelled the nine Catholic participants - especially priest brothers Daniel and Philip Berrigan - into the national spotlight.

The Catonsville action reflected not only the nature of the Vietnam antiwar movement in 1968, but also the larger context of social forces that were reshaping American culture in the 1960s.

The Result

Judith sprung into action! Why couldn't daytime put together an ensemble of Emmy® award winning participants? "I was so profoundly moved by the play, the message and the commitment of the actors involved, I decided then and there, to put together my own production using the best of the best of Daytime," Chapman declared.With the support of the board members of the Actors Gang and her partner in Happy Hour Productions, Amanda Smith, she rallied together her talented pals to round out the cast. Next, Judith nailed down a location to host the benefit and found an organization that resonated with her to raise money for. The Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, California gladly offered up a date for the one-night only performance and proceeds from the event will go to KIVA, an organization that makes small loans to individuals around the world that they might grow a business and become more self sustaining.

The Details

On January 19, 2008- The Palm Canyon Theatre and Happy Hour Productions will present "The Trial of the Catonsville 9" at 8pm. The cast includes the following actors:

Judith Chapman (Gloria)
Christian LeBlanc (Michael)
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis)
Vincent Irizarry (David)
Kristoff St. John (Neil)
Ron Hale (ex-Mike, General Hospital)
John Callahan (ex-Edmund, All My Children)
Greg Rikaart (Kevin)
Daniel Goddard (Cane)
Eyal Podell (Adrian)
Emily O'Brien (Jana)
**additional actors to be announced.

For ticket information contact the box office of the Palm Canyon Theatre at (760) 323-5123.

For sponsor or media information, contact Amanda Smith at (760) 416-2068.

For more information on the Actors Gang, go to:

http://www.theactorsgang.com/main.htm

For more information on the Catonsville Nine, go to:

http://c9.mdch.org/

Art truly does inspire action!

"Emmy®" is the trademark property of ATAS/NATAS.