POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks will present its annual, free, patriotic play, October through November, on select dates. Back by popular demand, the play is “Breaking the Silence: Stories of Vietnam Veterans,” which tells the stories of five heroes, all who have connections to the College.
This true story chronicles the lives of five Veterans: Army Nurse Lou Eisenbrandt; Army Colonel Tony Nadal; 1st Marine Colonel Bill Duncan, otherwise known as Texas Pete; Colonel Donald “Doc” Ballard, Navy corpsman with the 4th Marines and Medal of Honor recipient; and Sergeant John Ligato, Marine platoon leader. Each of these individuals have traveled with C of O through the Patriotic Education Travel Program.
The showing of a patriotic play is a fall tradition at College of the Ozarks. Performances take place in the Royal Oak Forum, located in The Keeter Center, and are free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; seating is first-come, first-served.
All performances are open to bus tour groups. The duration of the play is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. For more information and for reservations, call (417) 690-2929.
Play Synopsis
When the Vietnam soldiers returned home, they were not met with parades, explosions of confetti, striking up of bands, cheers of joy, honoring ceremonies … nothing. Breaking the Silence is a play which tells these true stories with the hope that younger generations will recognize the sacrifices of their grandparents, the heartbreaking way American soldiers were treated as they returned home from Vietnam, and the disillusionment of anti-American philosophy which has pervaded our country.
“Out of the darkness of political misguidance from Washington surrounding the Vietnam War are the stories of the men and women who admirably served, shining like the setting sun,” said Mark Young, M.F.A., professor of theatre and playwright.
The play is based on the book Vietnam 101, by Dr. Jerry C. Davis, retired chancellor of College of the Ozarks, and adapted for the stage by Young.
“We focused a lot on the students in class and their interactions with the Veteran characters. The students are able to witness firsthand how impactful their performance is to the Veterans who came to see the show,” Young said.
Play Dates — Performances will take place in The Keeter Center’s Royal Oak Forum. The play’s duration is approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Show dates for performances:
October 15, 24, 26, 29, 31 – 2 p.m.
October 17 – 7 p.m.
November 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 – 2 p.m.
Play cast
Narrator 1, Kaelen Ludden, sophomore hospitality major from Bolivar, Missouri
Narrator 2, Kobe Clay, senior theater major from Mount Ida, Arkansas
Lou/ Nurse, Victoria Rivera, junior theater major from Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Bill/Texas Pete, Jacob Priestner, senior theater major from Springdale, Arkansas
Doc/Corpsman, Gage Hauck, junior music theater major from Camdenton, Missouri
Tony/Caption, Samuel Pitt, senior business administration major from Greenwood Village, Colorado
John/ Marine, Tierce Carmody, junior theater major from De Soto, Missouri
Amy/Student, Grace Rainwater, senior theater major from Las Vegas, Nevada
Natasha/Student, Michelle Lyons, senior music theater major from Hollister, Missouri
Charity/Student, Anna Veit, senior theater major from Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Daughter/Protester, Emma Walters, senior theater major from Silva, Missouri
Mother, Phoebe Ulmer, senior music theater major from Seneca, Kansas
College Professor/Cab driver, Thomas Miller, junior musical theater major from Creighton, Missouri
Son/JFK, Hayden Grimm, junior biblical studies major from Elon, North Carolina
Wife, Brekken Manning, freshman musical theater major from Wyandotte, Oklahoma
Stage Manager, Winter Godfrey, junior video production major from Alpena, Arkansas
For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.
About College of the Ozarks
College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and financial responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.
The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award 2024 and the Best of the Best and Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.
College of the Ozarks
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Valorie Coleman Public Relations Director
- September 30, 2024
- (417) 690-2212
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