The Vietnam War was a riveting, emotional experience but few works capture its impact like Shirley Lauro’s play “A Piece of my Heart.” The drama about the experiences of five brave women in the center of the conflict will be presented by the Campbell University Theatre Arts Department Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-17 and Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 22-24, at 8 p.m. in Ellis Theatre of the Rogers Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $7 general admission and $3 for faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling the Campbell University Box Office at (910) 893-1509.Based on the same novel as the television series “China Beach,” “A Piece of my Heart” chronicles the lives of five nurses and a USO singer thrown together during the Vietnam War. The drama is about their experiences and insights during that turbulent era.”The play portrays each young woman before, during and after her tour in the jungles of Vietnam,” said director Keith Hight. “It ends as each leaves a personal token at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.”Taking the roles of the brave women are Jessi Ferguson, of Ruffin, N.C., as Martha: Jamie Woolery, of Charlotte, N.C., as Lee Ann; Ashleigh Adamson, of Kapolei, Hi., as Sissy; Melissa Whilden, of Orlando, Fla., as Mary-Jo; Nondi Breneman, of Apex, N.C., as Whitney; and Sasha Fuller, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., as Steel. The cast also includes Mike Giles, of Bowie, Md., as a soldier; and Matt Weber, of Fredericksburg, Va., as a Vietnam veteran. Weber is also the stage manager for the play.”A Piece of my Heart” premiered in 1991 at the Humana Festival in Louisville, Ky., and was performed as part of the Vietnam Memorial dedication.
Campbell Theatre Department presents Vietnam drama