Footlight Players, in residence at the Queen Street Playhouse, will present The American Soldier by Doug Taurel for a special one-weekend-only engagement over Memorial Day weekend.
Drawn from real letters, diaries and firsthand accounts spanning from the American Revolution to modern-day conflicts, The American Soldier is a solo performance that brings to life the voices of those who have served. Through storytelling and character transformation, Taurel portrays multiple soldiers across generations, capturing their bravery, vulnerability, humor and heartbreak.
Both intimate and epic in scope, the play offers a human portrait of service and sacrifice, exploring not only the realities of war but the personal stories often left untold. In the close setting of the Playhouse, audiences will experience these narratives in an immersive environment designed to foster reflection, connection and remembrance.
“My goal with The American Soldier has never been political, but to sincerely thank our veterans and their families for their sacrifice and service to our nation,” Taurel said. “To raise awareness of the struggles veterans and military families face when they return home from war, transition out of the military, and confront the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder. Most importantly, I want to help those who have no connection to the military better understand what service to our nation sincerely means.”
First performed in 2015 for a small audience in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the production has grown into a nationally recognized work. It has been nominated for an Amnesty International Award and performed at venues including the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, off-Broadway theaters, the New York Federal Reserve Bank and the American Legion’s national headquarters. The show has toured more than 40 cities and has been featured in publications including The Washington Post, HuffPost, BroadwayWorld, Playbill, Military Times and Time Out.
“I guess the goal since I first performed the play in 2015 has been to pull back the curtain on war and give meaning to the term we throw around so frivolously, ‘Thank you for your service,’” Taurel added.
This Memorial Day weekend, The American Soldier offers Charleston audiences an opportunity to experience a theatrical tribute honoring the courage, complexity and enduring spirit of service members.
Event details:
- The American Soldier
- Queen Street Playhouse, 20 Queen St., Charleston
- Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 30, at 3 p.m.
- Sunday, May 31, at 3 p.m.
Tickets and information:
- Visit footlightplayers.net or call 843-722-4487