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PRESS RELEASE

"WORDS OF CHOICE" PUTS RIGHTS ON STAGE IN LAWRENCE

AS NATION LOOKS AT ROE v. WADE

Contact:

Jana Mackey785-840-5717

Cindy Cooper 212-560-2616

Joan Lipkin 314-534-1454

wordsofchoice@mindspring.com

"Words of Choice," a dynamic play about reproductive freedom, is heading to Lawrence in September to generate discussions about women's rights. 

With Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance and with two openings on the U.S. Supreme Court, "Words of Choice" is focusing attention on the effect of the right to privacy on real lives.

The play, which weaves together comic and serious stories by 15 writers, will be performed one night only in Lawrence on Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m. the Lawrence Arts Center, sponsored by Lawrence NOW.  Created by Cindy Cooper of New York City, the play is directed by Joan Lipkin, artistic director of That Uppity Theater Company in St. Louis. 

Words of Choice is touring to Kansas in a time period in which the state attorney general has subpoenaed the complete medical records of women from two abortion clinics.  Most recently, he sued the state to stop payment for the abortions of women survivors of rape.

"It's time to break open the conversation on reproductive rights.  The right to privacy belongs to all of us. It can't be left to politicians to score points.  This is an opportunity to reflect about what it means," said Cooper.  

The true-to-life stories in Words of Choice touch upon hot-button topics such as emergency contraception, sexual assault, unintended pregnancy, abstinence education, fetal anomalies, safe and legal abortion. 

"It is funny, moving, informative, entertaining, and an evening of theatre like no other," said Joan Lipkin, director.

The Lawrence performance will feature Thomasina Clarke, Jacqueline Masei and Kimberly Mason.  The play will be followed by a discussion, hosted by Lawrence NOW, with thanks to Planned Parenthood of Kansas/Mid-Missouri and KU Students for Reproductive Rights. 

Other Kansas performances will be in Manhattan at KSU on September 20, sponsored by Manhattan NOW, and in Wichita on September 21 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Wichita, sponsored by the Kansas Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. 

Words of Choice has been performed in over two dozen cities, including Springfield, St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, Boston, Orlando, Tallahassee, and elsewhere.  Writers included in Words of Choice are Angela Bonavoglia, Kathy Najimy, Judith Arcana, Gloria Feldt, Emily Lyons, Alix Olson, Kathleen Tolan, and Justice Harry Blackmun. 

Tickets are $8, and $6 for students.   Information about tickets should be directed to:mailto:now_lawrence@yahoo.com or 785-840-5717. 

More information about Words of Choice: www.wordsofchoice.org.