THE GHOSTS OF TONKIN
by Steve Lyons
Directed by Mark Kuntz
MAY 2 - 10, 2015
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
Where: ACT Theatre, 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA
When: May 2, 7, 8, 9 @ 7:30 pm, May 3, 10 @ 2:00 pm | 2015
Featuring: Greg Monahan, Gray Eubank, Robert Hankins, Jim Lortz, Heather Dudenbostel, and 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
Nov, 2015: American Theatre Magazine article about Bellingham TheatreWorks participation in the ACTLab program at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle.
May 1, 2015: Dave Ross interviews Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons on KIRO radio.
May 2, 2015: Mike McCormick interviews Ghosts of Tonkin playwright Steve Lyons on KEXP radio.
POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS
May 2: led by Dave Ross, KIRO radio Morning Show
May 3: led by Manda Factor, KOMO News Radio Morning Show
May 7: led by Florangela Davila, KPLU and freelance journalist
May 8: led by Elisa Jaffe, KOMO TV reporter and producer
May 9: led by Allen Schauffler, Al Jazeera correspondent
May 10: led by Ross Reynolds, KUOW