A rock musical about the equality odyssey
Story and lyrics by Charles Kouri, Music by Gary Bragg with additional songs by Dean Schlabowske
“Ultimately, we as men need to see that achieving equality for women can be a totally selfish act because men have to see how much better and more fulfilling their life will be if all the women they care about had equal rights." Charles Kouri, Writer/Producer
24 Words
Contrary to popular belief, feminist do not hate men. We are actually quite fond of most of them--especially when our brothers do their part to advance our rights. So one can only imagine our delight when we heard about 24 Words and spoke to Charles Kouri, the "selfish" writer/producer of the cabaret-style show opening Tuesday, October 27 in Chicago.
Kouri believes men must take responsibility for the role they are playing in "preventing equality" and face and deal with the fears they have about what an equally gender based society would mean.
‘I would ask any man who believes women are not equal or should not be equal to tell a woman they care about - their mother, daughter, wife, sister – “You are not equal.” If you can’t tell someone you love they’re not equal then it’s easier to see that systems of inequality – and every reason for inequality – is wrong.’ Charles Kouri
The realization that his mother and grandmother were not equal opened Kouri's eyes to the blatant injustices our gender based society perpetuates and lit the spark that led to the creation of
24 Words. Kouri says he chose to do the show cabaret style "because music is a language of emotions as well as ideals,...to try to capture what it means to know that equality exists but it is out of reach."
Kouri also understands the vital role younger people play in movements and is grateful for his millennial rich cast who will be performing 20 original songs in every style from swing to glam rock. The problem connecting the younger generation with the ERA movement, Kouri explains, is like most, they think the ERA already was ratified.
'Young people today can be very aware of gender issues in terms of equal pay and reproductive heath. And they also are driving changes in gay rights and other issues...But Equal Rights isn’t on the radar in large measure because young people think “equality” is law. Most people don’t know that the ERA never was ratified or that the issue of equality has been debated since before the Constitution was written.' Charles Kouri
24 Words hopes to become part of the movement to ratify the ERA by reigniting the spirit needed to finally capture that out of reach equality once and for all.
ERA Action is honored to be attending and to present info about moving the ERA forward nationally and in IL--an un-ratified state.
SHOW INFO
24 Words
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Theater Wit
1229 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657
CLICK FOR TICKETS
(There is no late seating for this production)
Story and lyrics by Charles Kouri, Music by Gary Bragg with additional songs by Dean Schlabowske
The cast: Roy Brown, Elisa Carlson, Kelsey Colburn, Kathryn Diana, Jaymes Osborne, Charlotte Ostrow, Russell Alan Rowe, Janelle Villas, Missy Wise
The band: Russell Alan Rowe, Graham Nelson, Elisa Carlson
Director: Erik Wagner
Musical Director: Linda Madonia