THE GHOSTS OF TONKIN
by Steve Lyons
Directed by Mark Kuntz
AUG 29 - SEPT 28, 2014
It will devastate two countries.
It will topple the President of the United States.
It will kill two million people.
And one man will try to stop it before it begins.
In August, 1964, our smoldering involvement in Vietnam was ignited into an all-out war when the North Vietnamese attacked a US destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin.
But it was later revealed that the alleged attack, in fact, never happened. When the Iraq War began, people drew an analogy between the genesis of that war, and the beginnings of the Vietnam War.
In 1964, Oregon's Senator Wayne Morse was an outspoken critic of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that authorized military intervention in Vietnam. Senator Morse was one of only two congressmen to vote against the resolution. The Vietnam War eventually killed over two million people.
The Ghosts of Tonkin is based on telephone conversations, senate transcripts, recently released NSA documents, and other sources. This is the powerful story of how seemingly well-intentioned public officials brought about one of the most devastating chapters in the history of the United States: The Vietnam War.
Fratti-Newman Political Playwriting Award Winner
SHOW INFO
BELLINGHAM
Where: Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA
When: Friday and Saturday, August 29 and 30 | 2014
PORTLAND
Where: Lincoln Hall on the Portland State University Campus, Portland, OR
When: Saturday, September 27 | 2014
EUGENE
Where: The Wildish Theatre in Springfield, Eugene, OR
When: Sunday, September 28 | 2014
Featuring: Greg Monahan, Gray Eubank, Robert Hankins, Jim Lortz, Heather Dudenbostel, Evan Kubena
Rating: PG-13 for adult themes
Running Time: 65 minutes, no intermission
SHOW GALLERY
Videography by Michael Jacobsen, edited by Angela Kiser.
Photos by Angela Kiser.
IN THE MEDIA
Sept 25, 2014: Willamette Week article about The Ghosts of Tonkin.
Sept 25, 2014: KLCC interview with The Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons.
Sept 23, 2014: KBOO "Stage and Studio" interview with The Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons.
Sept 22, 2014: Oregonian article about The Ghosts of Tonkin.
Sept 25, 2014: Eugene Weekly article about The Ghosts of Tonkin.
Sept 24, 2014: KXRY "Carl in the Morning" interview with The Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons.
Sept 23, 2014: KPSU "Pipeline" interview with The Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons.
Sept 23, 2014: Oregon Public Broadcasting "Think Out Loud" interview with The Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons.
Sept 1, 2014: The Ghosts of Tonkin is "Editor's Pick" in Portland Monthly.
August 27, 2014: Cascadia Weekly interview with Steve Lyons about The Ghosts of Tonkin.
August 21, 2014: Bellingham Herald guest article by Steve Lyons about The Ghosts of Tonkin.
August 14, 2014: Playwright Steve Lyons discusses the upcoming production of The Ghosts of Tonkin on The Joe Show on KBAI.
August 2014: Article about Bellingham TheatreWorks and The Ghosts of Tonkin in the August issue of Bellingham Alive!
August 2014: Article about Bellingham TheatreWorks and The Ghosts of Tonkin in the August issue of Entertainment News North West.