Yoksouka Theater Group To Perform For Women’s History Month
By Jamie Chevalier, Seahawk contributor

March is Women’s History Month, and the Yokosuka International Players (YIP) will be performing a play to honor the achievements of women in the military.

“The March Project” will be presented March 17 and 18 at the Nile C. Kinnick High School Theater.
The play tells the history of women in the military and includes scenes about the sacrifices of military spouses. Cindy Lopez, YIP president and writer and director of The March Project, said some members of the group discussed writing a play about military spouses, and the idea grew from that.

“I thought what if we did something for Women’s History Month? We could really make it about women in the military and include spouses. It could be a March thing,” Lopez said.

The main story is the history of women in the military, but Lopez said it is not limited to those who served.
“We use the word ‘around’ as well, because even women who served were not considered to be a part of (the military) for many years. It’s also about the spouses and people who live the military life,” she said.

According to Lopez, finding a lot of research on earlier women in the military was difficult.

“A lot of women served in earlier wars and didn’t get recognition from Congress until the late ‘70s,” she said.
She said the research she has done has been very educational for her and she wanted to share that and encourage people to educate themselves as well.

“Most people associate women in the military with nursing work, but women have served in all sorts of positions,” Lopez said.

According to Lopez, this play is an opportunity to recognize women who have paved the way for this generation.

“It’s about telling the whole history about America’s history,” she said. “There are a lot of unsung heroes who never made it into the official record.”

Part of the proceeds from the production will be donated to charity, and part will be used for a scholarship for a student involved in performing arts. The rest will be used to cover expenses.

While they are unable to say specifically which charity the proceeds will benefit, Lopez said that it will be used to help homeless female veterans and their children.

“There are an appalling number of homeless veterans, but especially female veterans,” she said. “A lot of the services available to veterans aren’t available to children, like housing. So that leaves a lot of homeless mothers. It’s tragic and appalling.”

The March Project will be presented March 17 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and March 18 at 2 p.m.

Tickets will be sold at the door and the admission price is by donation only.

For more information about the YIP, email yokosukainternationalplayers@gmail.com.