by Marianne Perez 

Friday night. First night of the conference. Pre-registration and Meet and Greet going on. As people are milling about and getting to know each other, The Gift of Peace play, by Stacey Martino, is announced.  According to the website, "The Gift of Peace is a three part project which aims to educate, inspire civic action, and draw media/grassroots support towards the establishment of a US Department of Peace and Nonviolence."

Here are some reactions from the audience: 

"The Gift of Peace is a gift to the grassroots movement. It is a high-powered, inspirational, deeply moving and educational experience. Thank you Stacy Martino, Valentino and all who are participating to create the momentum to bring the Department of Peace to reality. I loved it." - Dot Maver (Peace Alliance, Executive Director)

"Thought provoking. Riveting." - Laurie Russo (Washington, DC)

"Deeply moving and inspirational. A beautiful reminder that one voice does make a difference and also we're not alone." Teri Dodge

"It was a good play to raise awareness." Ann-Louise Fraser (Washington, DC)

"It was to good to stop feeling hopeless.  It's good to know there is a voice.  And that the presentation was made by a very bright group of people with feelings." - Elizabeth Taylor (Philadelphia, PA) 

"Amazing... I told Stacey when I first read it that she absolutely had to do this, and I am so proud of Adrianne, and Stacey, and Tova, and the entire cast for pulling it off! They did it, and all deserve Tony awards! Such inspirational performances, such great information, with such compelling delivery was brilliant."  - Terry Mason (Encino, CA) 

"It was a whole series of really good vignettes.  The soldier back from Iraq (where my son was), the young girl who got engaged in learning about American history, the homeless person... the emphasis all the way through was connecting with early American history.  At the beginning they were talking about how peace is essential for the kind of country that we want to have and how the Department of Peace can make that vision happen.  The veteran said, 'During peace time we founded the Department of War. It would be pretty ironic if during war time we founded a Department of Peace.' And he said he was tired and exhausted about always fighting, always being against, and it's time that he became for something." - Jack Hinman (Mount Vernon, VA)

Lauren Ferree, Actress (age 14):

"My mom is the producer, so I had connections. The minute I met Val, I fell in love with the play.  I knew from the first time I met the rest of actors, these would be bonds for the rest of my life. These would be friendships for a long time. Usually I do more musical theater type stuff. This was realistic, upfront, no lies.  It was a completely different from what I am used to.  I learned alot. 

I was kind of familiar with the Department of Peace and what they did, but I didn't realize it was already all over the country. I've learned life lessons from the actors and I'm going to apply them to the rest of my life. They are so self-confident, go for it.  It's been an experience of a lifetime.

Auditions were 2 weeks before we left. Jan 12. We left Jan 26. So it was hard core.  Val said that it was the urgency that was important. Why tell this story today?"