A play echoing the themes of the #MeToo movement premiers at Geva Theatre's Fielding stage on Thursday.
Swans explores a family torn apart by abuse. It's a story of reckoning, recovering lost memories, and maybe even redemption. It’s the work of playwright Maria Brandt, who also teaches creative writing at Monroe Community College.
Brandt says while many women have been empowered to find their voices and speak out against their abusers, it's important to include men in conversations about violence against women.
She says it's critical to do that in a non-accusing way, because it's important to understand the causes that underlie sexual misconduct, such as past abuse.
"There are also ways that our culture codes gender in such extreme and dysfunctional ways that it's almost impossible for any one of us to get out from under its grip."
To listen to an interview with Maria Brandt, click on the LISTEN link above.
Swans is co-produced by Straw Mat Writers and Method Machine. It runs Thursday, June 21 through Saturday, June 23 on Geva Theatre’s Fielding stage. The cast includes Spencer Christiano, M.J. Savastano, Judy McCaffrey, and Kevin Sweeney.
Thursday's 7 p.m. performance will be followed by a talkback with RESOLVE of Greater Rochester and its Stand-Up Guys project.
Saturday's 7 p.m. performance will be ASL-interpreted and followed by a talkback with IGNITE.
