When the dance performance “Healing Wars” debuted at Arena Stage last June, audiences were stunned by the way Liz Lerman, M.A. '82, used her intimate choreography to examine how to heal wounds left behind by America’s bloodiest conflicts.
Her small eight-person cast included the actor Bill Pullman and his wife Tamara Hurwitz Pullman. Each person on stage lured viewers in with powerful stories about how war touches everyone, from concerned doctors hoping to mend injuries to shattered veterans trying to overcome unspeakable traumas.
“Healing Wars” was the first of several plays produced through the National Civil War Project, a multiyear collaboration that Ms. Lerman, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, pioneered. The project pairs four universities with five arts organizations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. GW formed a creative partnership with Arena Stage to produce shows like “Healing Wars.”
Director of GW’s Documentary Center Nina Seavey knew early on that “Healing Wars” would resonate deeply with audiences. That’s why the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker chose to follow Ms. Lerman and her cast with a camera, capturing a behind-the-scenes look at how the performance came together and how it tackles difficult questions about the aftermath of war.
Ms. Seavey compiled her footage in “Parables of War,” a short documentary that screened before a packed audience on Tuesday. The film was produced by Barbara Porter, chief of staff in the president’s office, and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts as well as GW parent Mario Grauso and his son, freshman Harrison Grauso. Several student veterans turned out to see Ms. Seavey’s final cut for the first time.
“This is an important screening for us because we’ve never shown the film in front of an audience, and tonight we’re going to have that first connection in our home territory,” Ms. Seavey said. “Every filmmaker needs a center, and GW has been that anchor for my work for 25 years.”
George Washington President Steven Knapp introduced the 32-minute film, which marks another creative endeavor inspired by the National Civil War Project. In October, Dr. Knapp graced Arena Stage himself and read a monologue in “Our Wars,” a production that featured scenes written by two GW students.
“Parables of War” opens with one of the stories featured in “Healing Wars.” Mr. Pullman recounts the Civil War’s First Minnesota Volunteer Regiment at Gettysburg. The losses were so brutal that by the end of the battle, one town’s entire generation of men laid dead.
The film then quietly explores how Ms. Lerman and her cast thought about anecdotes like this, and how they translated the stirring narratives into dance. One scene witnesses the performers sitting over dinner, discussing their family members who have served in war. Later, one of the cast members reveals he is a veteran who lost both of his legs in an explosion while serving overseas. With a deft touch, Ms. Seavey shows that Ms. Lerman encouraged each of her actors to make deeply personal connections to the material in “Healing Wars.”
After the film, Ms. Lerman, Ms. Seavey and Ms. Porter took questions during a panel discussion, revealing how the Civil War Project has spurred creativity throughout the university.
“It’s somewhat unusual to have a theater and a university partnering to create new works,” Ms. Porter said. “This film lets the project live on, and it allows it to live on in a different medium.”
The University Counseling Center sent a representative to the screening in case the film triggered any issues viewers wanted to discuss. Vice Admiral (Retired) Mel Williams Jr., associate provost for military and veterans affairs, said the film is critically important because it gives voice to veterans still grappling with the “horrible and tragic human endeavor” of war.
“It’s so very important that the arts contributes to a conversation that our nation needs to hear,” he said. “This film helps tells the story for those who cannot speak.”