Stage Play: "A Voice Screaming To Heaven" Carlos Salum, playwright Carlos Salum was baptized at St. Patrick's church and knew the five martyrs. At 18, he witnessed the horror of the massacre, the defamation of the victims, and the subsequent cover-up. Like many people in Argentina, he managed to bury his painful memories for almost 15 years, until he was offered the opportunity to join a theatre class in Tampa, Florida by Trish Gullett, a fellow playwright. In 1992, he joined Stageworks, directed by Anna Brennen.   Playwright Mark Leib (Harvard, Yale) taught the weekly workshop that helped Salum develop the first of 13 drafts of his 2-act play "A VOICE SCREAMING TO HEAVEN."   Salum also received support from Bruce Rodgers, Assistant Artistic Director of the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida; and the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, MN.   The play had a staged reading by Stageworks at The Falk Theatre in Tampa, Florida on October 23, 1995.  The first production was in Spanish at St. Patrick's Church in Buenos Aires for the 20th anniversary of the massacre on July 3, 1996.  Three additional functions followed, gathering a total of 1,400 attendees. On November 18, 1997, "A VOICE SCREAMING TO HEAVEN" opened at The Onion Shed in London, England and run till December 13.  The production was undertaken by The Latin American Theatre Company -- headed by Susana Figueredo, with direction of Daniel Heres.  Critiques: "Time Out,"  "The Express," and "Noticias."  Future productions are planned for New York City.  Carlos Salum is a member of The Dramatists Guild (New York) since 1992. Read a Synopsis of the Play Quotes from the program of the Buenos Aires' production: "The subjacent reality of this work of art explains the inexplicable. Its origin and genesis, its development, its author and his inspiration, all the diverse collaborators converging with their talent on this project, show us the Divine Will that directs human actions by means of propositions and not impositions." - Father Kevin O'Neill, S.A.C.  Former Superior and current Historian of the Pallottine community in Argentina "This is a concrete opportunity to show my solidarity with my Pallottine brothers. The play shows that truth and forgiveness are the base of an authentic peace. These are eternal values when they are exposed in a work of art." - Father Ray Dalton, S.A.C.  Actor on the Buenos Aires' production, playing the character "Father Terry O'Malley." "The play moved me to tears. After reading it, I felt inadequate to compose the music. This is the first time that something like this happens to me in my entire career. I let it roam in my mind for a while, without forcing it, and then the music started to flow. I hope the play is well received. The message deserves to be heard." - Ron Jones, President, Emotif, Inc., Hollywood, California, USA. Award-winning composer of the soundtrack for the "Star-Trek, The Next Generation" television series. "They called me to work on a theatre project, and I encountered a lifetime commitment. This is an opportunity to rescue the memory and the 'Never Again.' It's necessary to remember so these things never happen again and to finish with the divisions, with the sterile antagonisms. Men and women without beliefs and with different beliefs form this cast. United in effort and creation we reflect the working harmony we wish for our society. We present this play with the pain for the past, with respect for the work, and with love for the future." - Leonardo Odierna - Director, Buenos Aires' production "A VOICE SCREAMING TO HEAVEN was born from the impotence and the pain I felt exactly 20 years ago, while the cadavers of the five martyrs were taken out of St. Patrick's church. The soothing balm of the distance and the complete freedom of expression helped me give birth to it. The five martyrs, along with a choir of angels formed by my friends, my family and my teachers nursed it during four years and more than twelve drafts. Only then the play crawled out looking for a director and a cast. And it found them: a group with outstanding commitment and generosity. This story is not mine at all. It belongs to all who love the five martyrs and to Humanity as a whole. I think that if this minuscule contribution inspires others, our five friends will be satisfied." - CARLOS SALUM, Author. "I want to thank Eduardo Abbate, my schoolmate of 12 years and my best friend, who brought me to St. Patrick's to meet the Five Martyrs when I was in search of spiritual guidance.  Eduardo is now a psychoanalyst, a music composer, a theater director and a filmmaker.  He volunteered his professional services to video tape my play during its historical run at St. Patrick's.  This generous gesture allowed us to join forces one more time, like 20 years ago, when we both wanted to do something better with our protected lives, and we walked towards the Five Martyrs' shining flame.  Thank you, Eduardo.  What a magnificent mystery we've been allowed to share.  I'm honored to continue being your friend, a friendship that terror and murder could not break."  -- Carlos Salum

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