"Dancing With Death in the Garden"

By Chris Madsen

The taste of immortality is best
when stakes are high,
like sweet tea in Georgia
on the 4th of July.
I lost it all when life asked me to provide.
Gave away my mind for the 9 to 5.
I craved chaos. I ached to feel,
I beckoned death and he obliged.
We danced in the garden beneath the pines.
I watched the roses wilt beneath his cloak
then observe as they’d return as Oak.

---

Chris Madsen is a former Scout Sniper and US Army Veteran. Read more of his writing here.

---

What’s happening at VetRep…

Tickets are going fast for the Parlor this season, our show in May is Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon. The night after their grandfather’s funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal (and sometimes physical) battle. In one corner is Daphna Feygenbaum, a “Real Jew” who is volatile, self-assured and unbending. In the other is her equally stubborn cousin Liam, a secular and entitled young man, who has his shiksa girlfriend, Melody, in tow. Stuck in the middle is Liam’s brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the fray. When Liam stakes claim to their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith, and legacy ensues. Don’t miss out, reserve your tickets for Bad Jews here!

We are currently offering multiple dates for our online and in-person Playwriting for Veterans classes, and our Acting for Beginners class is now being offered weekly every Saturday from 10am-12pm. Scholarships for qualifying veterans, as well as multi-class passes are available. Registration details can be found here.

Help us move into our permanent home at 1 Angola Rd! A public hearing will be held on May 9 at 7pm at Town Hall in Cornwall in reference to our request to change our zoning from residential to commercial. This is a critical step for us to be able to move forward and get into our new space. If you are able, please come out to the meeting and show your support. If you cannot attend but wish to write a letter you can email it to: supervisor@cornwallny.gov