Veteran Voices: Sharing Stories, Supporting Veterans

Veteran Voices is a staged reading by the Seaside Players Community Theater where civilian actors read from scripts in front of an audience on stage to convey the story without any sets or costumes. All 10 plays were written by veterans from around the country and were first performed in Indianapolis in April 2026 by New Propel Works as part of its Theatre For Veterans Scriptwriting Workshop.

The first reading is on Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) at 7PM. Earlier in the day, the Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony in El Prado Park.

When talented veterans bring their stories to the stage, the public gains a unique and profound perspective that cannot be fully experienced through headlines or books. Live performance allows audiences to engage emotionally, fostering empathy for the challenges of military service.These plays include scripts about a MASH unit in the Iraq War, soldiers returning home from combat, post-traumatic stress disorder among emergency responders, and combat soldiers caught in a ghostly time-warp, reliving a skirmish in the Battle of Chickamauga.

The plays also reflect the veterans' perspectives on universal human themes: marriage, humor, grief, friendship, joy and faith. One play focuses on a couple's struggle with disconnection. Another play humorously explores what the gods might say in a modern podcast. Another is a poignant fable that lyrically teaches about the consequences of one's actions. And one mini-musical captures the thrill of a reunited love.

Veterans have a lot of wisdom to share. These plays showcase their sharp wit, sense of humor, compassion, appreciation for the arts, and their commitment to serving their communities even after military service.

The event is a fundraiser for American Legion Sterling McClellan Post 142 in Pompano Beach.

A photo from the initial staged reading at The District Theater in Indianapolis in April 2026.