Yale alumni and guests are invited to attend a virtual watch party of two episodes from Vineyard Theatre's series, Lessons in Survival. During the event we'll join members of the production team for a live talkback session. We hope you'll join us. More info on Vineyard Theatre, Lessons in Survival, and members of the production that we'll be fortunate enough to speak with during the talkback, many of them Yale alumni, below. Vineyard Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre company dedicated to nurturing the voices of daring artists, and to developing and producing work that pushes the boundaries of what theatre can be and do. One of the country’s preeminent centers for the creation of new plays and musicals, our work seeks to challenge and inspire all of us to see ourselves and our world from different perspectives. Lessons in Survival Synopsis: 8 episodes of trailblazing artists and activists such as James Baldwin, Miles Davis, Toni Morrison, Bayard Rustin, Lorraine Hansberry and others who changed our country with their words. Lessons in Survival asks what these voices can teach us about our country now, and the opportunities for change that stand before us. This collection of interviews and speeches from some of America’s most revolutionary artists and activists from the 1960’s-2000’s are brought to new life in and for our moment. Actors channel the original broadcasts on an in-ear feed and speak exactly what they hear. A trailer for the series can be found on youtube here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zKs9585UW4&feature=youtu.be). There is also a wonderful NY Times piece about the program linked below. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/30/theater/lessons-in-survival-vineyard-commissary.html Info on the two Episodes we will be screening: EP 1: “Survival Is Not A One Time Decision” Excerpts of conversations and speeches with Nina Simone (1968), Lorainne Hansberry (1964), and Audre Lorde and Blanche Cook (1982), tackling radicalism, survival, and the role of the artist in times of revolution. (Runtime: 27 minutes) Featuring: Kalyne Coleman, Nicole Lewis, Deirdre O’Connell, Myra Lucretia Taylor EP 3: “When You Say Revolution... What Do You Mean?” Women leaders of the Civil Rights Movement: Angela Davis discusses the role of Communism in the Black Power Movement and breaks down the path to true revolution (1972 and 2008); Georgia Gilmore reflects on organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1979); and Fannie Lou Hamer offers a critical diagnosis of the moral state of America in 1968. (Runtime: 35 minutes) Featuring: Helen Cespedes, Crystal Dickinson, Ricardy Fabre, Nicole Lewis Talkback participants (where available, full bios below): Tyler Thomas (Co-Conceiver and Director) Nicole Lewis (Actor), ’96 B.A. Daniel Kluger (Composer, Sound Mixer), ’08 B.A. Suzanne Appel, Managing Director, Vineyard Theatre, ’11 MBA, MFA Trent Anderson, Director of Development, Vineyard Theatre, ’19 MBA, MFA When: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 7:00pm Event begins with Viewing of Episode 1, “Survival Is Not A One Time Decision” 7:30pm Talkback with Vineyard Team and Actors Q&A 8:00pm Episode 3 Viewing, “When You Say Revolution... What Do You Mean?”