In 2007, Chicago’s Griffin Theatre Company premiered Letters Home, dramatic readings of actual letters from soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, the production has been seen by over 50,000 people in 35 cities across the U.S.

The company is back in Chicago for a special Veterans’ Day performance at Stage 773.

Eight Forty-Eight featured letters from three soldiers: Leonard Cowherd, Sharon Allen and Matthew Webster. 

After a recent performance in Pittsburgh, Cowherd’s parents presented The Griffin Theater Company with his uniform. Lieutenant Cowherd was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Allen gained notoriety for her blog 100 Things I Learned in Iraq, and her participation in the book Operation Homecoming.

Music Button after Letter #1 Leonard Cowherd III: Solo Andata, “The Echo’s Left Behind, from the CD Fyris Swan, (Hefty)

Music Button after Letter #2 Sharon Allen:  The Spy From Cairo, “Ala Shan”, from the CD Secretly Famous, (Wonderwheel)

Music Button after Letter #3 Matthew Webster:  6 Parts 7, “Spaces Between Days Pt. 1”, from the CD Silence Magnifies Sound, (Suicide Squeeze)