Iowa Veterans to Tell Stories on Stage Nov. 8-10

America has been at war for more than 10 years, but with less than 1 percent of the population serving in the military, the veterans among us go largely unseen. The actors and producers of "Telling: Des Moines" hope to change that.

In their own words, veterans and military family members will tell their personal stories of service and sacrifice, ranging from the jungles of Vietnam and the mountains of Afghanistan to the departures gate of the Des Moines International Airport. "Telling: Des Moines" is an original and unforgettable theatre event not to be missed.

Four of the seven cast members have past or present connection to the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division. All have connections to service in the Iowa National Guard.

A World War II U.S. Navy veteran may also present his story at one or more performances.

"Telling: Des Moines" will be performed three times:

• Thurs., Nov. 8 at 11:15 a.m.
• Fri., Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Sat., Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

All performances will be at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) campus in Ankeny, Iowa, in the auditorium located in Building No. 6. Tickets are FREE for DMACC students, faculty and staff, and $10 for the general public (cash only, please) and can be picked up in advance of the show at the Student Activities Office, Building No. 5, Room 27. Proceeds and donations will be used to offset production costs and to fund scholarships for veterans.

“More than 650 DMACC students are student-veterans and beneficiaries using G.I. Bill benefits,” says Laurie Wolf, DMACC Executive Dean of Student Services. “As a community of learning, 'Telling: Des Moines' is a way for us to creatively and constructively engage each other in conversations about military service and sacrifice.”

For more information about the show, check out www.tellingdesmoines.org. For ticket information, call the DMACC Student Activities Offices at 515.964.6376., Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make tax-deductible donations to the DMACC performance, contact Tara Connolly, DMACC Foundation, at: 515.964.6447.

Based in Austin, Texas, The Telling Project's founder Jonathan Wei has helped create similar productions in:

• Eugene and Portland, Ore.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Starkville, Miss.
• Washington, D.C.
• Seattle, Wash.
• Baltimore, Md.
• Iowa City, Iowa

Des Moines Area Community College, a public institution serving the educational and career training needs of Iowans, is committed to the lifelong success of its students. As Iowa’s largest two-year college, DMACC offers 153 programs, certificates and transfer degrees, annually serving more than 75,000 credit and noncredit students on six campuses and in three learning centers. Thanks to college-wide innovation, new programs and affordable tuition, DMACC has experienced record growth and is the 15th fastest growing two-year college in America. For more information, please visit www.dmacc.edu.

For directions to the DMACC Ankeny campus, click here.

For a map of the DMACC Ankeny campus, click here.