No Mas: The Play Project

No Más: The Story of the Salvadoran Martyrs

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
*Licensing Fee: Each version requires the payment of a licensing fee (chart at end of document) to one of two organizations (information about the organizations follows). Once confirmation of the licensing fee has been returned to the author, the author will provide properly formatted scripts to be printed for the cast. Only a sample script will be provided until fee is paid. Fee need only be paid once, regardless of number of performances.

*Edits or changes to the script: Any changes to script content (cast expansion excluded) other than the addition of reflections from additional Jesuits (of the substitution thereof to keep the total number at 7) need to be okayed by the author. Directors are welcome to solicit reflections from Jesuits within their community to include in the show, but are required to provide a copy to the director, along with a release (included at the end of this document) from the Jesuit to allow the reflection to be accessible to future productions.

*Fonts, Slideshow, and other branding: There are several image options to be used for promotional materials; it is strongly preferred that these be the images on promotional materials, though it is not an absolute requirement. They are included in this document for preview purposes; higher quality files can be provided if requested. The files will include the information for properly crediting the photos. A branding document will be provided along with the scripts upon payment of the licensing fee.

*Admission: If the show is going to charge admission, it is the preference of the author that funds go either to the service and justice missions of the entity or to a charity. Suggestions are included at the end of this document. If multiple performances are done with admission charged, the author would prefer at least some of the money go to one of the organizations listed.

SCRIPT OPTIONS
There are a variety of different versions of the show, designed to fit specific times or events. Some things are consistent between the shows: they are all bilingual, they all include the words of the martyrs, they all utilize silence and song in an intentional manner. They are also designed to be done as staged readings or as off-book shows. Casting requirements as shown are minimums, with actors playing multiple roles; casts can be expanded as director chooses. They are:

*Full length show: Told in two acts, the show runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission between Act I and Act II. Act I focuses on the voices of the martyrs; Act II offers reflections from Jesuits on the loss of their brothers. Cast requirements: 8 males, 4 females, 2 non- gendered roles; at least 1 male and 1 female must be able to speak Spanish well enough to perform in it confidently. Requires the use of a laptop and projector.

*One Act Version: Condensed to just one act, the show runs about an hour with no intermission. It includes Rutilio Grande, Romero, the 4 Churchwomen, condensed versions of El Mozote and Rio Sumpul, and the UCA Jesuits, as well as shortened reflections. Cast requirements: 8 males, 4 females, 2 non-gendered roles; at least 1 male and 1 female must be able to speak Spanish well enough to perform in it confidently.

*One Act Competition Version: Created for high schools to use for One Act Play competitions, the show has a running time of 45 minutes. It omits the two massacres as is, but can be tailored with a request and at least 2 weeks notice for script turnaround. Cast requirements: 8 males, 4 females, 2 non-gendered roles; at least 1 male and 1 female must be able to speak Spanish well enough to perform in it confidently.

*Four Churchwomen Version: Focuses solely on the 4 Churchwomen, intertwining their words with Jon Sobrino’s reflection on their murder. Running time is about 40 minutes. Cast requirements: 4 females, 1 male, 1 non-gendered role.

*UCA Martyrs Version: Focuses solely on the 4 Churchwomen, using the words of the martyrs and the reflections of Jesuits. Running time is about 35-40 minutes. Cast requirements: 6 men, 1 non-gendered role.

LICENSING FEES
The licensing fee for the full version is $50. The two One Act versions are each $35. The 4 Churchwomen and UCA Martyrs versions are $25. If there is a financial hardship in paying the licensing fee, arrangements can be made to make a donation of the same amount to one of the two organizations.

Preferred Organizations
The show has been performed in association with two organizations; it is at the discretion of the organizers to which organization they would like it to go. It is the author’s preference that any funds raised go to one of these two organizations, but grassroots social justice organizations working in Central America or the USA (including anti-racism and pro- immigrant organizations) are acceptable, if proceeds are to be donated to charity.

Ignatian Solidarity Network: ISN coordinates the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC and provides a variety of programs for high school and college students, recent grads, alumni, and faculty to continue learning about and engaging in the faith that does justice. More information can be found at www.ignatiansolidarity.net.

Asociación Pro-Búsqueda de Nińas y Niños Desaparecidos: Founded by Fr. Jon Cortina, SJ to help children and families who were torn apart during the Salvadoran Civil War, many of whom were adopted by families in other countries, to find closure and answers, Pro- Búsqueda continues that work and the documentation of war crimes. Their offices were attacked last year and funds will go a long way to helping them secure the building and better protecting the wealth of information contained therein. More information can be found at www.probusqueda.org.sv (in Spanish).

For more information or sample scripts, please contact the author at nomasplay.org.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Chabot is a social ethicist and PhD candidate at the University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology. Her love of social ethics grew out of her experiences in El Salvador as an undergraduate and as a graduate student. In 2004, during her last semester of college, her first full-length play, No Más: The Story of the Salvadoran Martyrs, premiered to a packed house at Creighton University. In addition to the show, she has also helped plan and/or create rituals for various school groups and for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Though her primary writing is academic and covers everything from feminist theologies to the ethics of professional club soccer, she also enjoys creating rituals and shows that are designed to help people connect their passion for their faith with the pursuit of social justice.