Home Front: A Ground-Breaking Piece of Theatre

The TE'A Project (Theatre, Engagement & Action) has employed its innovative, interactive, documentary-style approach to theatrical performance to develop a moving, funny and deeply humane theatrical piece about the challenges and triumphs of American veterans as they come home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every TE'A Project performance includes a "Third Act"— a facilitated dialogue between the audience and the TE'A Company members.

We need your help to bring this timely and penetrating performance piece to the stage. Americans respect the risk that the men and women of our armed forces take when they commit their lives to defend America's national interests in Iraq and Afghanistan. But do we really know how to support our troops when they come home? Do we even think about it?

Communities are created and healed when we bridge the gaps in our experience, deepen our insight into each other, and reach common understandings, judgments and aims.

So here is what the young and talented artists of the TE'A Company NYC asked scores of American veterans who recently returned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:

If you could have the conversation with the American people that you would like to have, what would you like to speak about, and what would you hope might be the result of that conversation?

We learned that it can be difficult to be at home - once a vet comes back from Iraq and Afghanistan. We learned that coming home is often lonely and disorienting. We learned that coming home would be easier, safer and better if people understood a bit more. We took what we learned and created a script full of authentic characters and dramatic plot lines and now we need to breathe theatrical life into it.

The funds raised from Kickstarter will help us bring Home Front to the stage. We need to pay our director and cast members for their time to workshop the show and get it ready for audiences. We need to rent rehearsal space, secure a sound designer and purchase props. And we need publicity funds to generate enthusiasm and promote the vision of The TE'A Project.

Without these things, all we have is 40 pages of amazing narrative that no one will get to hear.

Any support we receive beyond our goal of $5,000 will be greatly appreciated, and we will put it to good use taking Home Front on the road.

Thank you so much for your support of The TE'A Project!