Our History

Evacuation Theatre Troupe at rehearsal, Chalmette Evacuation Theatre Troupe The seven members of the Evacuation Theatre Troupe are on a mission; a mission to share the stories of Louisiana with the entire country. New Orleans playwright Barry Lemoine, is leading the way for the troupe let the residents of the states that were a part of the original Louisiana Purchase territory know that “our story is your story.” Lemoine, along with Rose Marie Sand, Christian Bordelon, Shannon Gildea and Edward McGuinness, formed a non profit group called the Voices Foundation whose goal is to “gather stories and histories and present them through theatrical productions and educational programs that are cultural, historic, and artistic; keeping traditions alive by sharing them for the entertainment of all people.” The ETT is comprised of Board Members of the Voices Foundation along with fellow actors Tom Hassinger and Katie Betz. All been affected by Hurricane Katrina, as most lived in St. Bernard Parish and lost their homes and possessions in that devastating August 2005 event. In February 2006, they shared the experience of telling their stories in a visit to New York to join McGuinness, an educator at Archbishop Malloy High School in Queens. Lemoine also organized and directed fund raising events for Katrina victims when he was an evacuee in Troy, Alabama last fall. This wasn’t Lemoine’s first experience with the art of telling the stories of his community. His works include “An Evening with Betsy, Voices from the Storm,” a play which told the stories of the survivors of the category three hurricane that hit New Orleans in 1965, and “Louisiana PurChase,” a play commissioned by the state of Louisiana for the bicentennial of the Louisiana purchase. The Show Lemoine’s production of Voices of Louisiana takes the story of our people from the Purchase to present. Along the way, our interpretation of New Orleans personalities including Truman Capote, Anne Rice, Emeril Lagasse, transport the audience to present day Katrina storm survivors. A colloborative effort, the members of the troupe have taken turns at learning tech from tech director Christian Bordelon, penning scenes and monologues that reflect their personal experiences and talents, sewing costumes under the direction of costumer Katie Betz, booking shows and even drawing dates to handle cooking chores while on the road. Contributing writers to the project are Tom Hassinger (Act 2 and Warner monologue) and Rose Marie Sand (Charlie monologue and Milton & Rose scene). The Documentary A documentary is being prepared by producer Annette Campo and video artist Jack Jackson that will be available to chronicle the exploits of our incredible team as we travel the country. Thank You! In doing so, we also extend our thanks to those volunteers from across the globe who have helped in our recovery, and reiterate the importance of keeping our area alive & viable. With assistance from local sponsors, ETT completed a road trip that took them to twelve states in twelve weeks, from August through November 2006. Fund raising events in New Orleans and St. Tammany have helped fund the mission; donations to the Voices Foundation will not only help defray costs of the trip, but also fund the Milton Sand Scholarship. Scholarhips The Voices Foundation recently presented the first Milton Sand scholarship awards to two St. Bernard graduates, Kammie Nguyen and Robbie Seibert, and we plan to expand that scholarship program in the years to come. The Louisiana Purchase From Louisiana to Minnesota, the Theatrical Ambassadors of the Voices of Louisiana return along the great Mississippi River Road, with a historical and hysterical look at the story of Louisiana’s place in American history. From the Louisiana Purchase to political maneuvers and natural disasters that have shaped our lives, this presentation of humorous and poignant monologues, vignettes and visuals will both educate and entertain. Focusing on communities that were part of the Louisiana Purchase Territory, this tour visits twelve states in twelve weeks - some of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, as selected by “America’s Promise -The Alliance of Youth.” What do Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana have in common? They were all part of the Louisiana Purchase. With the Louisiana Purchase, the United States doubled in size! Our nation’s acquisition of New Orleans was a pivotal moment in our history, so, too, is it’s rebirth critical to our future. This tour will be conducted by a group of actors that has worked together on a number of school and community projects in the past. This project will be the first production for this ensemble. The troupe includes Barry Lemoine, Rose Marie Sand, Shannon Gildea, Christian Bordelon, Will Schneider, Tom Hassinger, and Katie Betz. They have come together with a common intention, serving as ambassadors, educating the public through performance. Our story is your story.