Culver City Observer -

CRE Outreach presents the World Premiere of MARCHING ON, an original play written by and starring eight military veterans from Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET). VET presents a first-hand view of the soldiers' experiences in their rawest form, unfiltered by press, political, or military censorship. Productions give audiences greater insight into the difficulty facing veterans returning from deployment, exposing the inner turmoil of the lasting scars, both external and internal, endured from combat.

This artistic journey brings veterans' personal stories to life from boot camp to returning home, highlighting the difficulty of transitioning back into society. For one veteran, her transition unlocks memories that have been hidden away for years. Another feels rejected because of the color of his skin, while others realize that above all, family matters most. Though alone in their stories, these heroes come together as a unit as they search for the strength to keep marching on.

Directed by Greg Shane, Artistic Director of CRE Outreach, MARCHING ON features Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET) members Josie Benford (AL Army National Guard), Irene Cruz (U.S. Marine Corps), Paul E. Johnson (U.S. Navy), Monty Montgomery (U.S. Air Force), Jefferson Reid (U.S. Army), Mason Vokes (Reno Air National Guard), Judith Welch (U.S. Army), and Carla Brame Wilkerson (U.S. Marine Corps).

July 13-22, 2018 at The Blue Door, 9617 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm. Opened in April 2018, The Blue Door, CRE Outreach's new theater in Culver City, is the first theatre of its kind: a dedicated performing space for the voices and stories of people historically marginalized by society.

Where/When:

The Blue Door, 9617 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 from July 13-22, 2018 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm.

How:

Single tickets are priced at $15. Tickets and information online: https://creoutreach.org/event/marching-on/

More About CRE Outreach

CRE Outreach is a non-profit performing arts organization dedicated to empowering underserved youth, people with disabilities, and military veterans in greater Los Angeles. CRE stands for Create, Reflect, Empower-words that encompass the process, focus, and targeted outcomes of our programs. Since 2007, CRE Outreach has utilized theatre, the performing arts, and educational programs as a means to enhance self-esteem, encourage self-expression, and empower individuals to overcome the challenges in their lives. The Blue Door is a venue operated by CRE Outreach and is a dedicated home for artists of all backgrounds and abilities.

Read more about CRE Outreach online: https://creoutreach.org.

More About Veterans Empowerment Theatre

Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET) features a variety of performing arts workshops and opportunities that give our nation's brave service members a safe environment to voice their own heroic stories, personal tragedies, triumphs, and experiences through theatre. Many veterans upon returning from war often turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of dealing with trauma experienced during active duty – many times resulting in homelessness or incarceration. According to the American Journal of Public Health, "Veterans returning from war zone deployment are at higher risk for mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse." Read more about VET online: https://creoutreach.org/our-programs/veterans-empowerment-theatre/