STAGE PAGE – SILENT TORMENT World Premiere at The Blue Door in Culver City

The Veterans Empowerment Theatre cast of SILENT TORMENT includes: Top row from left: Dave Culmer, Asia Davis, Daphne Dee Wright, Nicholas Gore, Irene Cruz, Judith Welch, Johnny Rivas. Bottom row from left: Bailaunni Shelton-Bueno, Darryl Eure, Jesse Tobar, Melinda Smalls. Photo credit: Nate Albus

By
Shari Barrett
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1085

 

CRE Outreach presents the World Premiere of SILENT TORMENT, an original play written by U.S. Air Force MSgt, Daniel P. Ruffino, featuring Asia Davis, winner of California Idol, and starring nine military veterans from Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET). VET utilizes the performing arts to present a first-hand view of the military experience in its rawest form, unfiltered by press, politics, or military censorship, thus giving audiences greater insight into the difficulty facing veterans returning from deployment, exposing the inner turmoil of the lasting scars, both external and internal, endured from combat.

The artistic journey of SILENT TORMENT shines a light on an injured U.S. Marine who returns home to find that his life and reality have changed drastically. His physical injuries are only superficial compared to the pain he carries in his heart and mind. As he struggles to cope with his emotions and bitterness, the relationships he once cherished begin to wither, and he sinks deeper into a place of hurt and shame. His chance meeting with Roger, a Vietnam veteran, sparks hope and an opportunity to be free of the destructive forces that torture him.

Directed by Greg Shane, Artistic Director of CRE Outreach, the cast of SILENT TORMENT features Veterans Empowerment Theatre (VET) members: Irene Cruz (U.S. Marine), Dave Culmer (U.S. Marine), Asia Davis (U.S. Air Force), Darryl Eure (U.S. Air Force), Nicholas Gore (U.S. Navy), Johnny Rivas (U.S. Marine), Melinda Smalls (U.S. Army), Jesse Tobar (U.S. Army), Judith Welch (U.S. Army), Daphne Wright (U.S. Navy), and Bailaunni Shelton-Bueno (Niece of a U.S. Veteran).

SILENT TORMENT performances take place at CRE Outreach’s theater The Blue Door located at 9617 Venice Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232, from April 26 – May 11, 2019, on Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note there is no performance on May 5th.  Run time is 90 minutes with a 15 -minute intermission. Single tickets are priced at $20, available at the door and online https://bluedoorculver.com Call the box office at (310) 425-8215 for veterans’ discounts.

 

More information about CRE Outreach: https://creoutreach.org. More information about Veterans Empowerment Theatre: https://creoutreach.org/our-programs/veterans-empowerment-theatre.