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by Jan Grossman
 The New Hampshire campaign celebrated the International Day of Peace with three presentations of the play The Gift of Peace. Those of us who attended the 2007 conference in DC were treated to the performance of The Gift of Peace by the original, nation-traversing troop. The New Hampshire production was directed by an enthusiastic NH peace and responsible-spending activist Christine Frydenborg, who works with local, talented youth who perform under the name of Best Foot Forward Productions.
The play, written by Stacey Martino, draws from a series of monologues that express ruminations about the need for the development of a Department of Peace and Nonviolence. Its points of view arise from a variety of everyday American citizens.
This was our first endeavor to produce an action on this scale. We sent press releases, emails, had endless personal conversations, contacted churches and schools. In the end we took a deep breath and realized we could only offer the play as a gift and surrendered the outcome (of attendance) to the greater powers.
Each performance had a prelude of a musical offering. Friday evening the joy exuded by the a capella group, The Profile Chorus, resounded throughout the lobby. Saturday we were blessed by the performances of two local song writers and musicians who have established The PeacePlace in the town of Temple, and by Penny Pressley Ferreira, a NH-native performer of national reputation. Their musical selections were moving and supported the heart’s opening toward Peace.
The tone of the play was creatively upheld by another local musician, melding tunes that supported each character. The play was opened by a stirring rendition of America the Beautiful, sung powerfully by one of the young actors. All action was lit from above by a skilled lighting expert (and volunteer).
Best Foot Forward Productions, whose cast members ranged from age 11 through young adult, took on their roles with vitality and conviction. They were supplemented by other community members, including two from our steering committee, who rounded out some of the ‘older’ perspectives.
It was an amazing and effectual offering. Audience members’ eyes were swollen with tears at intermission. We had additional names added to our campaign sign-up list, with great interest for the Student Peace Alliance, as well. One high school attendee expressed a deep desire to recreate the play for his senior project at a local Waldorf high school.
The intermission was also used as a fundraiser, with a silent auction and refreshments. We tabled Department of Peace information and sold bumper stickers, buttons, and such. Each table had a donation jar, which received a multitude of offerings. We also supported the global peace effort by selling homemade beaded jewelry from the village of a peace colleague and friend in West Senegal. Proceeds will be sent their way.
Not to be overlooked are the two community service awards we presented to honor the positive efforts of two groups so often negatively portrayed in the news. The first went to Temple-Greenville, NH Police Chief James McTague for his role in developing the successful merger of the Temple and Greenville police departments. This initiative has reduced crime and violence and continually works towards community building between the two towns. This unique, fiscally responsible program serves as a model for the state of NH and around the country.
Teacher/advisor Beth Powers and her PeaceJam group at Milford High School received the second award. Their award was for outstanding leadership and commitment to local and global peacebuilding initiatives. This group has created many opportunities that have informed and inspired their peers and others, taking an active role in creating a healthier local and world community.
Both recipients were awarded monetary support in appreciation of their work. PeaceJam applied theirs towards scholarships for their members to attend the Student Peace Alliance conference.
Our goals were lofty, our intention sincere, our foundational work seemingly endless. There was a tremendous sense of joy in working together in community; each aspect of the production supported the whole notion of action towards the hope of peace. Would we have wished to play to a packed house? There is no doubt. But the auditorium was comfortably attended, and in the end we were able to compensate all, honor our community members, cover our expenses, offer scholarships to NH youth to attend the Student Peace Alliance (SPA) Conference, and tuck a bit aside as seed money for our next adventure in the name of Peace!
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