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For Immediate Release: BOSTON, MA – Bailiwick Repertory of Chicago announces its “Focus on 10,667” program that will raise funds for survivors of sexual abuse and their families through a special benefit performance of SIN: A CARDINAL DEPOSED, Michael Murphy’s hard-hitting ‘docu-drama’ on the clergy sex abuse scandal in Boston that will play at the Regent Theater June 9 th to 27 th, 2004. Mark Steel, Company Manager for SIN, states, “10,667 is the number of children with ‘credible allegations’ of clergy sexual abuse from 1950 to 2002 that was recently publicly disclosed in the John Jay College report commissioned by the Catholic Church. We believe that by calling attention to this number, we can keep the focus on what is really important for this production – the survivors who endured the abuse.” “Focus on 10,667” hopes to raise at least $10,667 through a special benefit performance at The Regent Theatre on June 14 th, 2004 at 7:30 PM. Proceeds of that benefit will be donated to three clergy abuse survivor organizations, specifically The Linkup (a national survivor support organization based in Louisville, KY), Survivors First (a survivor advocacy group based here in Boston), and SNAP, or Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (another national support group based in Chicago, IL). Steel adds, “It is our hope that Bailiwick Repertory will be able to give back to these vital organizations as a small measure of gratitude for the support and assistance they have shown us.” The Benefit Performance on June 14 th will feature a reception before the performance and a post-show discussion with the audience and a panel of special guests. The panel will include SIN’S playwright, Michael Murphy, as well as its director and entire cast. It will also feature Sue Archibald, President of The Linkup, Paul Baier, founder of Survivors First, and key representatives from SNAP and Voice of the Faithful, a prominent organization of lay Catholics that evolved from the Church as a response to the abuse crisis. Bailiwick is also delighted to announce that attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who is portrayed in SIN, has agreed to participate in the discussion. Other key figures have expressed interest in joining the panel and may be announced shortly. Bailiwick is also announcing a second Benefit Performance of SIN on June 21 st, 2004 at 7:30 PM at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH. Manchester continues to be a Proceeds of this performance will be donated to the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Additionally, Playwright Michael Murphy is announcing that his royalties from all the performances in Boston will be donated to the Patrick and Joanne McSorley Fund. Patrick McSorley (whose testimony is included in SIN) was one of the most well-known and outspoken spokespersons in this case, died on February 23 rd, 2004 in Boston, one week before SIN premiered in Chicago. This memorial fund was established to help Patrick’s son, Patrick Jr., and stepdaughter Joanne with their educational needs. Bailiwick hopes that by announcing this “Focus on 10,667,” they can have some small part in helping these organizations continue the great work they do in providing comfort and support to those that have lived through these experiences. # # The Linkup’s goal is to foster healing, prevention, and education in the area of clergy sexual abuse. The Linkup Vision is to end clergy sexual abuse in all denominations and achieve healing of the survivor community. www.thelinkup.org Survivors First’s mission is to ensure that all survivors of sexual abuse are aware of their recovery options and to keep kids safe, with an emphasis on collaboration among survivors and non-survivors. www.survivorsfirst.org Survivor’s Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, is an independent, 14-year-old, self-help group of men and women who were sexually victimized by clergy. Based in Chicago, SNAP focuses on the following healing model - that both survivors and the institution that hurt them must be healed - helping individuals and changing the church that allowed the abuse. www.survivorsnetwork.org The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is an umbrella organization for 14 independent domestic and sexual violence crisis centers across New Hampshire that offer a wide variety of services to survivors including 24-hour crisis lines, advocacy, and shelter. The Coalition also provides outreach and public policy work, including support for legislation to extend the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases. Voice of the Faithful was an organization founded with the intention of providing practicing Catholics a means of participating in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church, by supporting those who have been abused, tosupport priests of integrity, and toshape structural change within Church. www.votf.org For more tickets and information on SIN in Boston or the Focus on 10,667 Benefits, call 781-646-4849 or visit www.acardinaldeposed.com.
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