The past four weeks have been a busy time for the cast and production team of "Ruined" in the Dept of Speech and Theatre. "This play is based on real events happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have worked tirelessly to bring this story to life, and feel ourselves honored to do so" says director Dr. Nadia Bodie-Smith.
From Lynn Notage, the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Ruined" is a haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war. Set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo, this powerful play follows Mama Nadi, a shrewd businesswoman in a land torn apart by civil war. But is Mama Nadia protecting or profiting by the women she shelters? How far will she go to survive? Can a price be placed on a human life?
The department and cast want to do more than just stage the story, so they are hosting a Congo-based non-profit organization, Rudi International, that focuses on educating Congolese children. These efforts they hope will minimize the violence and brutality in the region. Representatives from the organization will be at each performance.
Director Dr. Bodie-Smith adds, "We want audiences to come and have a good time. The actors dance, sing, fight, and push the boundaries of our western sensibilities. Ruined truly is a tremendous, touching production with the laughter of survival and the cry for hope. "
Ruined runs Nov 7-11, 2013 at the Rose McCoy Auditorium on the JSU campus.