‘SEVEN’ tells stories of women who faced and overcame great obstacles

One person, one voice and a single act of courage can change the lives of thousands.

This powerful statement from L.A. Theatre Works’ website eloquently describes the focus of its documentary play coming to Saint John’s University.

LA Theatre Works will present “SEVEN” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU. The performance is part of the 2019-20 Fine Arts Series at the College of Saint Benedict and SJU.

Based on private interviews with seven women who faced life-threatening obstacles, the heroic stories of seven different phenomenal women come to life in this captivating production.

Playwrights Carol K. Mack (who conceived the play), Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith and Susan Yankowitz collaborated to create a tapestry of stories that weave together the words of the seven women.

With narrations coming from Russia, Cambodia, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, the obstacles these women overcame including resistance, death threats, entrenched norms and pervasive violence, changed lives around the world.

The women of “SEVEN” include:

• Marina Pisklakova-Parker of Russia, who founded the first hotline for victims of domestic abuse in Russia;
• Mu Sochua of Cambodia, who is a human rights advocate and the former Minister of Women’s Affairs in the country;
• Anabella De Leon of Guatemala, who raised her family in poverty and eventually becoming a member of Guatemala’s Congress;
• Inez McCormack of Northern Ireland, who was a hugely influential human rights and Irish trade union activist (she passed away in 2013);
• Farida Azizi of Afghanistan, who became an activist fighting the marginalization of women under Taliban rule;
• Hafsat Abiola of Nigeria, who founded the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy and became an advocate for human rights and democracy following the murder of her parents;
• Mukhtar Mai of Pakistan, who brought her rapists to justice after she was gang raped and built schools to improve the conditions for young women.

Their triumphs over resistance inspire audiences as women continue to fight for their rights today. Accordingly, the play is being produced in March, which is Women’s History Month.

“SEVEN” is being performed in five Minnesota venues – March 11 at the Page Theatre at Saint Mary’s University, Winona; March 13 at the Sheldon Theatre, Red Wing; March 16 at The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, St. Paul; and March 19 at the Historic Holmes Theatre, Detroit Lakes, besides the CSB/SJU performance.

On a wider scope, “SEVEN” has been performed in 27 different languages in over 30 countries since 2008.

The L.A. Theatre Works has been the foremost radio theater company in the U.S. for four decades. L.A. Theatre Works is broadcast weekly in America on public radio stations.

The creation of “SEVEN” was supported by Vital Voices Global Partnership, a non-governmental organization empowering women through leadership, peace and prosperity. The organization has trained and mentored over 500,000 women and girls.

Filled with bravery and perseverance, “SEVEN” is powerful, timeless and life changing.

Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors, $21 for faculty and staff, $15 for youth and $10 CSB/SJU students.

For tickets, call the Benedicta Arts Center Box Office at 320-363-5777 or order online.

“SEVEN” is sponsored by Microbiologics, the St. Cloud Times/LOCALiQ and Intercultural Lead at CSB/SJU.

The activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.