THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Warrior Bards
Veterans Exploring Ancient Drama
ABOUT
An initiative that trains veterans to present innovative public performances based on ancient literature.
Funded by a University of Southern California Arts in Action grant, and in collaboration with Southern California Grantmakers, the Warrior Bards project gives approximately twenty veterans the opportunity to study selected Greek dramas, discuss them in light of their own experiences, and respond to their discoveries by creating their own public performances*.
CRITERIA TO PARTICIPATE INCLUDE:
An interest in personal enrichment and/or professional development in an area of the Arts and Humanities, and/or an interest in reading Greek dramas and exploring their meaning in relation to veterans’ experiences.
The ability to commit to a weekly evening training program of approximately 8 weeks — in the fall of 2022. Participants will receive a training honorarium for their time in the program.
Willingness to participate in at least two public program events — in November 2022.
APPLY TODAY
Open to any American veteran who has served in the US Armed Forces.
Listen to our Interview on KPCC about the 2019 Program
A Documentary Short Film - Directed by Dylan Howell
Warrior Bards: Moments of Bravery—
Via Zoom
In the fall of 2021, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we captured a group of United States military veterans participating remotely in the USC's Warrior Bards program. Through the reading and discussion of ancient Greek plays they discover that war veterans from 2,500 years ago share emotional, physical, and societal struggles that closely align with their own military experience.
2020 Warrior Bards
Online Public Performance
Warrior Bards Works-in-Progress Performance
November 13th, 2020
Total Running Time: ~90 Minutes
Testimonials
“What fascinates me is that you look at these stories, they were written thousands of years ago, and the morals and the questions that they pose are still very relevant today...I think as long as there’s going to be war, there’s going to be those questions.”
— JOHN PISTONE, U.S. NAVY
“It was intriguing to me to step into that mindset and say, ‘OK, how would I respond if I were in this situation?’”
— CHRISTOPHER ALLEN, U.S. AIR FORCE
“Tonight you will be invited into our sacred tribe and not only witness our interpretations of the war experiences of ourselves and that of the classic Greeks, but also learn of the stories, the social injustices and stigmas that veterans face while preparing for, engaging in and coming home from war.”
— JOHN HOLT, U.S. AIR FORCE
2019 Warrior Bards participate in a post-performance discussion at Hollywood Post 43 The American Legion
About Us
OUR CORE COLLABORATORS INCLUDE
William G. Thalmann
Chair | Professor of Classics & Comparative Literature
University of Southern California
Department of Classics
Nathan Graeser
Chaplain | Social Worker | Community Organizer | Innovator
Paula Cizmar
Playwright | Associate Professor of Theatre Practice
University of Southern California
School of Dramatic Arts
Michael Bodie
Filmmaker | Associate Professor of Cinematic Practice
University of Southern California
School of Cinematic Arts
Division of Media Arts + Practice
Vincent Farenga
Professor of Classics and Comparative Literature
University of Southern California
Department of Classics
Lucas Herchenroeder
Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Classics
University of Southern California
Department of Classics