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At no cost to military facilities, enlisted personnel or their families, the Olney Theatre Institute is developing and performing a new production entitled, Instant Messaging. The production will support, entertain, and provide encouragement to personnel who have sustained wounds in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instant Messaging will also educate the civilian population on the life-long struggles faced by our wounded warriors.

Instant Messaging is a fast-paced, 90-minute anthology of short scenes. Instant Messaging is a play that is not only performed for wounded veterans, but is about them. Combining original material adapted from real-life, personal stories of wounded veterans and published material from familiar plays and films, each scene is an "instant message" that focuses on the theme of overcoming adversity and the challenges they face in their recovery process. The theatrical experience will be enhanced with a talk-back session following each performance where the audience will be invited to discuss issues raised with cast members.

Instant Messaging has been endorsed and is being actively supported by the Armed Forces Foundation, one of the nation’s leading private organizations promoting the morale, welfare, and quality of life of the country’s military service men and women.

The Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Army Medical Command is working with the Instant Messaging team to arrange for performance venues. Our intent is to perform at military medical facilities such as: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C.; National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; and, Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Ultimately, the number of facilities, military and civilian, to be visited around the country will be determined by the amount of available funds raised through donations.

Instant Messaging is designed to let the veterans tell their stories. Thus, we will begin by conducting and recording private interviews with wounded veterans. We will then create a series of short (3-7 minutes long) scenes based upon portions of the interviews. In addition to new material, Instant Messaging may include excerpts from familiar films such as Jarhead, Three Kings, and HBO's Band of Brothers and as well as material from other sources. We expect the first performances will be held in May 2009.

All costs of the production will be covered by tax deductible donations. Parties interested in making a contribution can give online or send a check payable to: “Olney Theatre Corp”. Major donors will be recognized in the play's Playbill and will also be acknowledged in other production material. For additional information please contact: Mark Peterson or Valerie Shipman.

Contributions should be mailed to:

Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd.
Olney, MD 20832
Attn: Valerie Shipmanl/Mark Peterson