“The Trial of the Catonsville Nine” February 5, 2009

On May 17th, 1968, two Catholic priests, and seven Catholic activists including a nurse, a nun, an artist and four others all walked into the selective service office Local Board 33, located in the Knights of Columbus building in Catonsville, Maryland, grabbed hundreds of 1-A draft files and burned them with homemade napalm in protest against U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The publicity and news coverage from the ensuing trial was instrumental in galvanizing the American anti-war movement. "The Trial of the Catonsville Nine" is Daniel Berrigan's free-verse drama based on the actual records of the trial in which he and eight other defendants were convicted.

Jon Kellam, who directs a new production that will run at The Actors's Gang in Culver City February 14 through March 21, asks: "Is there a difference between breaking the law and committing a crime?

"Civil disobedience is an inherently American and truly patriotic act," says Kellam. "The Catonsville Nine were sentenced to a collective 18-20 years in prison for a crime that caused a little more than $100 in damage. We claim to be a world leader of moral ideals and human rights, but in what ways have we allowed economic and corporate interests to overshadow that responsibility? These are some of the compelling questions that this play inspires."

Jesuit priest, teacher, poet and activist Daniel Berrigan is the author of many books of poetry and prose, including Time without Number, America is Hard to Find, and Night Flight to Hanoi. Influenced by Dorothy Day and the pacifist Catholic Worker Movement, as well as by his experience with the worker-priest movement in France, Berrigan became an early voice of opposition to the war in Vietnam. He was a sponsor of the National Catholic Peace Fellowship and co-founder of Clergy and Laymen Concerned about Vietnam. In 1968 he traveled with Dr. Howard Zinn to North Vietnam to escort home three American prisoners of war. Seeing the effects of bombing and napalm on the Vietnamese people further motivated his antiwar activity, including his participation in the Catonsville Nine event. After Catonsville, Berrigan spent several months underground and after his capture, 18 months in prison. Berrigan has continued peace activism as a member of the Plowshares movement and has been arrested frequently for his protest actions. He lives today in Manhattan where he continues to teach, write and work for peace.

Performances of the "The Trial of the Catonsville Nine" take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, February 14 through March 21. Previews take place Thursday, February 5 through Friday, February 13 on the same schedule. A Talk Back with the cast and special guests will take place following every Sunday matinee performance except the preview. Tickets are $15.00 for previews and $25.00 for performances, except Opening Night (February 14), for which tickets are $50.00 and include a catered post-show reception with the actors and a free ticket to "Make Love, Not War," a Valentine's Day rock show that follows the reception at 11 pm. Tickets to all Thursday evening performances are Pay-What-You-Can when purchased at the door.

The Actors' Gang is located in the Ivy Substation at 9070 Venice Blvd. (near the intersection of Culver and Venice Blvds.) in Culver City. Two hours free parking is available throughout downtown Culver City; the Ince Parking Lot (corner of Culver and Ince) is directly across the street from the theater. For reservations and information, call The Actors' Gang Box Office at 310-838-GANG (310-838-4264) or go to www.theactorsgang.com.

Official Website: http://www.theactorsgang.com