Friday, November 13, 2026
Military Veterans on Stage
New York Theater: Three current Broadway shows feature active members of the military (A Few Good Men, Hamilton, Operation Mincemeat.) It is rarer to see on stage the more difficult stories of warriors after they have come home. In honor of Veterans Day, below are some works of theater depicting military veterans, ranging from Ancient Greek tragedies and Shakespearean history plays to a trilogy by Quiara Alegría Hudes, a pair of Broadway musicals, and two productions by En Garde Arts, one premiering next month
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2 comments:
It’s great how theatres are helping military veterans reintegrate into society by offering them the opportunity to be part of something that partially resembles their lives in the military, while incorporating the entertainment elements that audiences enjoy in shows today. I think this mixture really helps ease the sudden transition and gives war veterans something familiar to hold on to as they adjust to civilian life. While this is a beautiful opportunity, I wonder whether certain plots might actually make the transition more challenging for veterans. Depicting the loss and brutality of war could potentially trigger PTSD in individuals who have experienced similar situations. I also wonder whether theatres lower their casting requirements for military veterans, considering that they might not have spent as much time developing their acting skills or preparing for performances. So I’m curious about what baseline expectations veterans are held to when joining the cast.
I think it's good that theater is an avenue for veterans to move back to living as civilians. I think the structure and script of plays can help with this a lot by giving them words, actions, and feelings to fall back on when they don’t feel comfortable. By acting out fantasy and fiction, the veterans aren’t forced to completely return to the habits and traditions of our daily lives. I know there are musicians and performers who are part of the military who go around for morale, and I wonder if things do something similar or if these performers return to the arts when they are veterans. I do wonder if the content of the plays matters in the whole when aimed at veterans, where they are careful of sensitive subjects, or if this is a more individualized process where veterans choose to come into theater.
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