Discussing the Chicago Area Writing Project with authors and educators Hank De Zutter, Betty Jane Wagner and Barbara Kotto.

In her book, “Liberty Denied: The Current Rise of Censorship in America,” Donna Demac points out that we, as a society, are not as free as we think we are. Demac can’t understand why anyone would want to keep people from reading great pieces of literature. While some groups called certain books anti-Christian, Demac said no one has ever died from reading a four-letter word.

Cast members Philip Anglin, Ken Ruta and Penny Fuller talk about their roles as John Merrick, Mr. Treves and Mrs. Kendal, respectively. They also talk about having great appreciation for their roles and being able to see audience's reactions to their performances.

When asked, Jen Kruuse said he wrote his book, “A War for an Afternoon,” as a result of life being madness. As a morale booster, to make the men of the SS army feel invincible, they were ordered to exterminate the town of Oradour-sur-Glane, France. The women and children of the town were rounded up, placed in the town’s church and the church was burned. All the men of the town were shot dead. The entire incident, explained Kruuse, was madness, pure madness.

Being enamored with Rosa Luxemburg's life resulted in Donna Blue Lachman's play, "The Language of Birds: Rosa Luxemburg and Me." The play is of Luxemburg reading letters or of her talking to birds. At one point, Lachman wanted to quit writing the play, noting it was too difficult to finish. Remembering the strong and courageous revolutionary Luxemburg was made her complete the play.

According to Ramona Lampell, Appalachia is often associated with hillbilles and poor people. The Lampells wanted to change that stereotype with their book, "O, Appalachia: Artists of the Southern Mountains". By showing off the work of 20 artists', the Lampells hope the people of Appalachia feel good about themselves and where they come from.