So, where did the title come from?

People often assume the main character of Johnny Got His Gun is named John, but actually he's Joe Bonham.

Trumbo most certainly picked the title as a response to the most popular American song from World War I: Over There. Joe Bonham's experience did not quite match the upbeat tone of the song.


Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run.
Hear them calling you and me,
Every Son of Liberty.
Hurry right away, no delay, go today.
Make your Daddy glad to have had such a lad.
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy's in line.


Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.
Johnny, show the Hun you're a son-of-a-gun.
Hoist the flag and let her fly
Yankee Doodle do or die.
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit.
Yankee to the ranks from the towns and the tanks.
Make your Mother proud of you
And the old red-white-and-blue

Meet the Sound Designer: Jaz Tupelo

Jaz Tupelo (Sound Designer) is an Ada Comstock scholar at Smith College who will be graduating in December with a degree in Theatre. She was the sound designer for last 

year's Smith College production of PRIVATE LIVES. As a performer, she was most recently seen in MARAT/SADE as Coulmier. She also appeared in Deirdre Kinahan's MOMENT, as well as the NCT/Smith College co-production of NICKEL AND DIMED. She is a Northampton resident, and in her former life was a radio personality at WRSI and the producer for The Bill Dwight Show on WHMP. She is currently writing a radio sitcom based on her experiences in radio.

Awash in relevance | The Recorder

Awash in relevance | The Recorder

Here's a comprehensive preview story from The Recorder.

On WHMP with Bob Flaherty

Follow this link to listen to Joan and Kevin on the air with Bob Flaherty.

Bill Newman Show

Follow this link to listen to today's Bill Newman Show, featuring Linda McInerney, Kevin Maroney and Joan Holliday.

Old Deerfield Productions presents ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ | GazetteNet.com

Old Deerfield Productions presents ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ | GazetteNet.com

Here's an excellent preview article from The Daily Hampshire Gazzette.

The Valley Advocate: Stage - Johnny Got His Gun

Valley Advocate: Stage - Johnny Got His Gun

Our thanks to Chris Rohmann of the Valley Advocate for this preview....

Music by Vickie Phillips and Michael Rheault

In addition to the radio play, performed by an excellent cast, sound design by the excellent Jaz Tupelo, and an insightful panel discussion, Saturday night's program will include music from the early 20th century. The music was selected to support the themes of the radio, and will be performed by the incomparable duo of Vickie Phillips and Michael Rheault. (See The Cast page for their bios.)

Musical selections will include a medley of pieces selected by Vickie and Michael to begin the show: Oh It's a Lovely War (J.P. Long & Maurice Scott) We Don't Want to Lose You (Paul Rubens) Goodbye-ee (R.P. Weston & Bert Lee) Sons Of (Jacques Brel) Come Away Melinda  (Uriah Heep), and they will also sing the iconic tune Over There (Cohan), from which Johnny Got His Gun takes its title.

Vickie and Michael will being the second half of the performance with Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree and I'll Be Seeing You, two very popular tunes from the World War II era.

We hope to see you there. Order your tickets by following this link.

The Valley Advocate: The Public Humanist

The Valley Advocate: The Public Humanist

Here's a great piece about the show from the Public Humanist Blog.

Partnership with the Veterans Education Project

We are thrilled to welcome our new partner, the Veterans Education Project

The Veterans Education Project (VEP), founded in 1982 by Vietnam veterans, is an independent non-profit organization based in Amherst, Massachusetts. VEP trains and supports local military veterans to share their personal stories of war and homecoming in area schools and public venues. VEP presentations educate about the realities and human costs of war, promote dialogue, and share healing strategies and resources for veterans and their families. Through speaking, our veteran speakers gain an authentic connection with our community, provide a bridge between civilian and military worlds, and help all of us to heal the emotional wounds of war.  

Here's a link to an excellent article from MassLive about the show.

Meet the Panelist: Lee Woodruff

As co-author of the best-selling In an Instant, Lee Woodruff garnered critical
acclaim for the compelling and humorous chronicle of her family’s journey to
recovery following her husband Bob’s roadside bomb injury in Iraq. Appearing together on national television and radio since the February 2007 publication of their book, the couple has helped put a face on the serious issue of traumatic brain injury among returning Iraq war veterans, as well as the millions of Americans who live with this often invisible, but life-changing affliction.

They have founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation to assist wounded service members and their families receive the long-term care that they need and help them successfully reintegrate into their communities.

Woodruff is a contributing reporter for “CBS This Morning,” reporting on a variety of home, current events and family related topics. Her best-selling book Perfectly Imperfect – A Life in Progress, was followed by her first novel in September, Those We Love Most, which became a New York Times best-seller.

A freelance writer, Woodruff has penned numerous personal articles about her family and parenting that have run in such high-profile magazines as Ladies Home Journal, Real Simple, Redbook, Country Living and Parade.

In addition to freelance writing, Woodruff ran her own public relations and marketing consulting business for 16 years. Before that, she was senior vice president of public relations firm Porter Novelli.

At present, Woodruff lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and four children.

Meet the Panelist: Buz Eisenberg

Attorney Buz Eisenberg of the Northampton, MA litigation firm Weinberg & Garber, P.C. has handled a wide variety of civil, criminal, and civil rights cases during his 33 years of practice. For over 9 years he has been representing detainees at Guantánamo Bay, two of whom remain in detention.  As President of The International Justice Network he has been involved in the representation of Bagram detainees, and of other victims of the War on Terror. He has received numerous local, state, and national recognitions, including: 1992 Recognition by The Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty for successfully advocating to have a Georgia death penalty vacated; The 1999 Massachusetts Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award; a 2006 recognition by Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc. for 25 years of service, including as its president; the Southern Center for Human Rights 2007 Frederick Douglas Human Rights Award; the Boston Bar Association’s 2007 Presidents Award; and the 2008 NLADA Beacon of Justice Award. In addition to his practice Professor Eisenberg teaches courses in law and government at Greenfield Community College.

Meet the Panelist: Lt.Col. Henry Detering

Hank Detering is a retired United States Marine. He enlisted after two years at Springfield College, attended flight school as an Aviation Cadet, and was commissioned upon graduation. During his 20 years of service he flew both attack jets and helicopter aircraft. He was an instructor at the Officers’ Basic School in Quantico, VA, and served in numerous command billets with both aviation and infantry units in the United States, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. As a young officer in Viet Nam, Hank flew 100 missions in the A-4 Skyhawk and 150 missions in the A-6 Intruder. He also served with an infantry battalion as their forward air controller. In the mid-80’s Hank commanded a heavy helicopter squadron that supported both the invasion of Grenada and the evacuation of Marines from Beirut. A Distinguished Graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, Lt. Col. Detering’s personal decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. In 1985 Hank returned to civilian life in Pennsylvania, taught science, and became a high school principal. During his tenure, Octorara Area High School received the National Guidance Counselors Association’s Career Guidance Award.

Meet the Panelist: Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian

The Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian is a long-time activist for peace and justice.  Radicalized in college during the Vietnam War, Andrea has been active in movements for social change for over forty years.  A war tax resister, anti-racism educator, nonviolence trainer, environmental activist, and singer/songwriter, Andrea has sung at countless demonstrations up and down the east coast, participated in direct action, walked across the state of Massachusetts once to protest war and years later to stop climate change, and been involved in countless other movement activities.  Andrea is a graduate of Oberlin College, Duke University, and Yale Divinity School and is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ.  The former Dean of Religious Life at Mount Holyoke College, Andrea now serves as the Senior Pastor of the Haydenville Congregational Church which describes itself as a "gay-affirming, child-centered, peace-loving, justice seeking, song-filled, stubbornly hopeful, ever thankful beloved community."  The Church is known for its extravagant welcome, and its commitment to social justice, earth stewardship, and gay-friendly atmosphere. 

Welcome!

In this blog, you will find information about our production, cast and crew.

Our hope is to facilitate constructive thought and discourse, so feel free to look around and contribute to the discussion!