With a world premiere performance and cross country tour of the play, The Gift of Peace, celebrities, activists, and a documentary film crew come together to educate people nationwide about the non-partisan bill to create a US Department of Peace.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[January 14, 2007]

Los Angeles – Kicking off a cross-country tour on January 26th, 2007, The Gift of Peace will educate and inspire audiences from Los Angeles to Washington DC to support non-partisan legislation currently in Congress to create a national, cabinet-level Department of Peace.

“The idea for this series of monologues grew from my belief that a Department of Peace is exactly what this country needs,” said playwright Stacey Martino. “Regardless of one’s politics, religion or race we have all experienced a moment when a deeper calling for a more peaceful world arose within us, even if only for a moment. I wrote The Gift of Peace to remind each of us to see part of ourselves in everyone, so that perhaps that moment might be extended and sustained.”

The Department of Peace and Nonviolence will be a vital part of the U.S. Federal Government that American leaders have been calling for since 1792. The primary function of the Department of Peace will be to research, articulate and facilitate proven nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflict. The bill currently has 75 cosponsors in Congress and its proposed budget is the equivalent of two percent of the Department of Defense budget.

The touring troupe will be directed by Valentino Ferriera and will travel across country performing the play en route to the Department of Peace Annual Conference in D.C.  Stops will be made be in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta and Lynchburg with a final performance kicking off the Department of Peace Conference on Friday evening, February 2nd.

The entire process will be documented by Emmy nominated, DGA Award winning director Tasha Oldham. The film will explore whether everyday people can inspire a change in the direction of our country at this time in American history. A separate short film will be presented to all members of Congress during the National Department of Peace Conference.
The Gift of Peace tour will culminate in a Los Angeles show on February 28th with a group of high-profile performers, including Frances Fisher, Wendie Malick. Dan Lauria, Esai Morales, Amy Brenneman, Ivan Sergei, George Coe, Kent McCord and Ed Asner, with direction by Tony Award winner John Rubenstein. Parts of the tour documentary will be previewed that night as we welcome home the touring production. The Greenway Court Alliance will host the evening, which will raise awareness, funds and media attention for the project.

The Gift of Peace is scheduled to play in the following cities with local contacts following: