Macky Auditorium Concert Hall
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO

Join Howard Zinn, David Barsamian, and Anthony Arnove, along with local performers to be announced, for a reading of Voices of People's History of the United States.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

To purchase tickets on-line go to: http://www.peopleshistory.us/events/boulder
In person & by phone in advance: Boulder Theater Box Office, 2032 14th Street, 303-786-7030
In person, night of show only: Macky Auditorium Box Office (http://www.colorado.edu/macky)

DIRECTIONS TO MACKY
http://www.colorado.edu/macky/maps.html

PARKING NEAR MACKY
http://www.colorado.edu/macky/maps.html

Sponsored by and a benefit for Voices of a People’s History of the United States (http://www.peopleshistory.us) and KGNU Community Radio 88.5FM/1390AM ( http://www.kgnu.org)

These dramatic readings in Boulder will bring to life little-known voices from U.S. history, including women suffragists, Native American leaders, laborers and union organizers, and abolitionists, as well as unknown aspects of the famous, from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Mark Twain to Helen Keller.

In a nod to an upcoming national holiday, Boulder Voices will include the fifteenth century priest Bartolome de las Casas, who blew the whistle on Christopher Columbus, as well as dissenters with Colorado connections--native son Dalton Trumbo, and Joe Hill, whose ashes are buried in Lafayette.

The Boulder performance will be one of more than 40 Voices events that have taken place in 15 different states since 2004, involving Josh Brolin, Mos Def, Steve Earle, Danny Glover, Viggo Mortensen, Mark Ruffalo, Patti Smith, Marisa Tomei, Kurt Vonnegut, Alice Walker, and Alfre Woodard, among many others.

Some of these same readers are featured in a new documentary film, "The People Speak" (http://www.thepeoplespeak.com), based on the books A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People's History. Produced by Zinn, Arnove, Chris Moore ("Good Will Hunting"), and Matt Damon, "The People Speak" is scheduled for release in 2009.

A night of dramatic readings from Voices of a People's History of the United States with special guests.

at the Skirball Center
566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South

Tickets:

$25
$12 NYU Student

Available at the Skirball box office:

http://www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu/
212.352.3101

Confirmed participants include Tim Robbins, Suheir Hammad (http://www.suheirhammad.com/), Staceyann Chin (http://www.staceyannchin.com/), Lili Taylor, Joshua Xavier, and Black Thought (http://www.myspace.com/blackthought).

With music by DJ Reborn (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=27488703)

and

Bobbito Garcia ( http://www.somosarte.com/bobbito/)

with other special guests to be announced.

Cosponsored by NYU's Center for Multicultural Education and Programs (http://www.cmep.nyu.edu/).

Tuesday Oct 14th., 2 performances 12:00 pm and 7 pm California State University, East Bay
Thursday Oct.16th @ East Los Angeles Community College 7pm
Friday Oct.17th @ California State University LA, 7pm
Saturday Oct 18th @ Casa del Mexicano East Los Angeles Community Space, 8pm
Monday Oct 20th Marx travels to Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, Curtain 6:30 pm

For more info about the production , or to schedule a performance for 2008-2009, please visit http://www.ironagetheatre.org/marx.html, or contact Bob Weick at marxinsoho[at]gmail.com.

ABOUT THE PLAY

Marx launches into a passionate, funny and moving defense of his life and political ideas in Howard Zinn's brilliant, timely play, "Marx in Soho." The play is an excellent introduction to Marx's life, his analysis of society, and his passion for radical change. Marx uses current news and events to show how his ideas still resonate. "Why are you building more and more prisons," he asks. "Yes, capitalism has triumphed. But over whom?" American education, America's super rich ruling class, corporate mergers, prisons, and the media are some of the issues Marx confronts during the course of the play. Zinn's dialogue doesn't preach, rather it is full of mischievous humor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Renowned historian and activist Howard Zinn is widely known for his books "A People's History of the United States," and "The Twentieth Century," to name a few. Professor emeritus at Boston University, Zinn grew up in Brooklyn and worked in the shipyards before serving as an Air Force bombardier in WWII. Zinn was the chair of the History Department at Spelman College where he actively participated in the civil rights movement. He now lives in Massachusetts and lectures widely on history and politics.

ABOUT THE ACTOR

Celebrated actor Bob Weick has been actively touring MARX IN SOHO for 4 years with over 160 productions around the country from Maine to California. It has been a boon to theater companies as well as college educators who are teaching Marxist philosophy and history in an engaging and entertaining way.

"History textbook" doesn't exactly scream "best seller." But hey, A People's History of the United States -- not exactly your typical textbook. And Howard Zinn -- not your typical academic.

Video of the interview is now available at:

http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=867911317

"Author Howard Zinn is getting his props. Suffolk University has organized the first-ever Zinn Fest, a citywide celebration of the left-leaning former BU professor who wrote the influential "A People's History of the United States." Over the next several months, Suffolk, where Zinn's now a visiting prof, will collaborate with Boston Playwrights' Theatre and Central Square Theater to produce several works based on Zinn's plays, activism, and scholarship."

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/09/04/mmm_mmm_good_cause/

And from Theater Mania:

"Additional 'Zinn Fest' events will include Emma, a reading of Dr. Zinn's play about controversial 19th-century anarchist Emma Goldman, directed by Marilyn Plotkins, October 28; Shouting Theatre in a Crowded Fire, inspired by the writings of Howard Zinn and written and directed by Wesley Savick, November 20-22; and a staged reading of Zinn's Marx in Soho, directed by David Wheeler at Central Square Theater, March 6-7."

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/15115

"Zinn and Arnove are bringing this work to film with the support of Matt Damon and Chris Moore, who previously collaborated as producers on the television series Project Greenlight, and whose formidable powers as producers enabled them to greenlight such a unique project. In this special Mavericks presentation, the audience will be treated to a sneak preview of clips from the documentary The People Speak, along with a discussion on stage between Zinn, Damon, Moore and actor Josh Brolin (who performs in the project) about the process and their motivations. This continues a Mavericks tradition of giving Festival audiences a sneak peak at works-in-progress. In 2006, Michael Moore tried out early clips of Sicko, and in 2007, Larry Charles and Bill Maher showed samples of Religulous, which premieres at this year's Festival.

"The People Speak combines archival footage with new performances, the actors embodying voices full of courage and passion. For anyone who found school-book history dull, this version is an invigorating change."

http://tiff08.ca/filmsandschedules/films/peoplespeak

And see also the coverage in the New York Times:

More Fun, Less Politics, at Toronto Film Festival
By MICHAEL CIEPLY
September 5, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/movies/06fest.html

ARTS, BRIEFLY
Oh, Canada. Never Mind.
By MICHAEL CIEPLY; compiled by JULIE BLOOM
September 8, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/movies/09arts-OHCANADANEVE_BRF.html

"It was a quintessential Cambridge night last night, as Howard Zinn joined retired Rindge and Latin School history teacher Larry Aaronson and Lesley University professor Nancy Carlsson-Paige, a.k.a. Matt Damon's mom, at a fund-raiser for Social Justice Works! The event was held at Hotel Marlowe. Zinn showed clips from 'The People Speak,' the Chris Moore and Damon-produced film based on readings from his famous text. Rindge alums Fanshen Cox Emilio Flores, and Justin Lynch received grants for their ongoing social justice work. (Cox started a multicultural film fest in LA, and Flores and Lynch are working with South End teens to build a playground and center.) Aaronson said he wants to support former students who are out doing good in the world. 'It just overwhelms me, how many of these kids are out there working in the high schools, the police departments, in public law,' he said. Damon, an honorary event chair, wanted to be with them last night, but he's been busy with relief efforts in Haiti, said Aaronson, his former teacher. 'That's what these kids do'."

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/09/20/getting_a_leg_up/?page=full

And for more on Social Justice Works, see:

http://www.sjwtheaaronsonfund.org/

Josh Brolin stars as George W. Bush in the film W and appears in the film Milk. His documentary television series, The People Speak, will air in 2009.

A People's History of the United States
By Howard Zinn

"I've known Howard for a long time-right now I'm producing a 15-hour educational series with him and Chris Moore, Anthony Arnove, and Matt Damon called The People Speak, which is based on our trips across the country, reading from the book. We've gotten amazing people to do songs and speeches, from Eddie Vedder to Sean Penn to Viggo Mortensen. I think it's an incredibly rebellious book, because it's from the point of view of the citizens and victims. I was appalled to learn of the atrocities committed and allowed by our country throughout history. For instance, you hear about slavery, and yes, you feel you have a good perspective on what it was, but then you read this and realize that you didn't know that one-third of the people who were transported from Africa actually died on the ships. This is the most empowering book I've ever read. In fact, the reason I picked the school my girls go to is that it teaches A People's History."

http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/books/200810_omag_books_brolin

For two reviews of the event see:

"Acting on History"
By DAVID CARR
August 27, 2008
THE CAUCUS | New York Times

DENVER - The Starz Green Room sits just inside the security perimeter at the Democratic convention, but it is worlds away from the hardcore politics inside the Pepsi Center.

People who journeyed over Wednesday afternoon watched rapt as the likes of Ben Affleck, Josh Brolin and Rosario Dawson read from famous speeches in American history. The program, entitled "The History of Progressive America," included a sung tribute to labor hero Joe Hill and his song "Rebel Girl" by folksinger Jill Solbule, while Josh Brolin was cast as psychiatrist Daniel Ellsberg explaining why he turned over the Pentagon Papers. Marian Wright Edelman's speech to Milton Academy about the country's willingness to ignore the needs of its children, which was read by actress Kerry Washington, was a big [hit]. Then it became apparent that Ms. Wright Edelman was in the room, and a huge round of applause ensued.

Near the end of the program, a bearded Ben Affleck performed an impassioned rendering of abolitionist John Brown's courtroom speech in response to being sentenced to death.

. . .

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/the-carpetbagger-acting-on-history/

*

"DNC: Affleck, Brolin & Moore Bring Howard Zinn to Stage and Screen"
By Karina Longworth
SPOUT Blog
Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world

. . .

Moore began both sessions by showing a trailer for his doc, which is essentially a concert film comprised of footage captured at events where Moore’s celebrity friends dramatically read the words of historical thinkers, rebels and rabblerousers, from from Frederick Douglas to Emma Goldman to Muhammed Ali.

. . .

Some of said money shots are, well, priceless. Marisa Tomei throws her voice up to My Cousin Vinny register to take on the role of Cindy Sheehan; Hill Harper gives the poetry reading to treatment to the lyrics to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”; John Legend is surprisingly credible as Muhammed Ali. It all has a variety show feel, and with Zinn seemingly functioning like as the elder-statesman master of ceremonies, it almost plays like a Prairie Home Companion for a new generation of old-school-style, aggro lefties.

On the panel, Lux expressed concern that today’s Democrats are––at the risk of putting too fine a point on it––lacking in balls in comparison to previous generations of leftists. “Caution kills,” he warned. “Caution kills anything significant or historic.” An hour later, Moore took the stage to inform the crowd that the live performances were getting off to a late start because 6,000 Iraq veterans were outside protesting the war, causing a security lock-down around the perimeter of the Convention that even movie stars couldn’t get through. Though Moore apologized for the fact that some of the expected performers would be tardy or absent altogether (Affleck snuck in as Brolin was taking the stage for the first reading), of the protesters, Moore said, “I’m very happy for them.”

Maybe fittingly considering the climate just outside the room, the most explosive performance of the afternoon involved an outpouring of anger over this war and the way it’s been fought. Kerry Washington’s rendition of the Cindy Sheehan speech read by Tomei in the film brought reluctant but undeniable tears to this dispassionate reporter’s eyes. The black, 30-something Washington absolutely disappeared into the character of Sheehan, the white, middle-aged, slightly batty mom who became an early icon of the modern day anti-war movement when her son’s death prompted her to camp out outside George W. Bush’s vacation ranch. If Washington’s performance yesterday is any indication of the sheer commitment of these actors to bringing the radical voices of the past and present to vibrant life, then The People Speak is going to be one hell of an experience.

http://blog.spout.com/2008/08/28/dnc-affleck-brolin-moore-bring-howard-zinn-to-stage-and-screen/

For more information on Sami Al-Arian's case, please visit http://www.freesamialarian.com/.

Historian and social activist Howard Zinn is out with a new graphic-style book, A People's History of American Empire. We speak to Zinn about his experiences as a young soldier in World War II and about today's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.here-now.org/shows/2008/08/20080805_5.asp

Rob Kall Radio Show (WNJC Philadelphia)
August 20, 2008

Howard Zinn is a national treasure whose approach to history should be taught in every school in America. If you don't know his work, be sure to tune in or download the interview later.

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=8723

Uprising Radio
August 22, 2008

Howard Zinn on Obama, McCain, and the State of American Politics

http://uprisingradio.org/home/?p=3020

Free Speech Radio News
August 22, 2008

As Democratic convention protestors put the finishing touches on their protest plans, debate over the relevance of the protests exists among the left. Pacifica's Verna Avery Brown spoke with historian Howard Zinn and Labor Activist Bill Fletcher about protest tactics on her show What's At Stake. Professor Zinn encourages protest at the Democratic Convention.

http://www.fsrn.org/content/election-unspun-aug-22-dnc-protest-preview/3103

And and a forthcoming radio appearance: October 28: Howard Zinn lecturing on "Democracy Coming to the USA?" on David Barsamian's "Alternative Radio"