Limited Number of Free Tickets Available
Calvert Hospice will present “Holding On ~ Letting Go” on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Prince Frederick Campus of the College of Southern Maryland as part of its Southern Maryland’s Hospice and Palliative Care Conference. “Holding On ~ Letting Go” completes Bryan Harnetiaux’s trilogy of plays about the end-of-life (along with “Vesta” and “Dusk”), focusing on how
51-year old Bobby Alexander and his family navigate through his last days at home, under hospice care. “Holding On ~ Letting Go” explores with keen human insight the complicated family dynamics surrounding Bobby’s struggle to live fully while preparing to die. Following the play, the audience and actors will participate in a facilitated discussion.
The play is produced by Calvert Hospice, which is a nonprofit organization working to increase access to palliative care and hospice services by providing the best standards of care for those living with a life-limiting illness.
“Part of our mission is to explore the myriad of issues surrounding death and dying,” says Brenda Laughhunn, Executive Director for Calvert Hospice. “Producing this play as part of our Southern Maryland Conference on Hospice and Palliative Care is a great way to start a conversation focusing on the tension between ‘holding on’ and ‘letting go’ faced by both the person who is dying and those loved ones who must share the experience.” Calvert Hospice is offering a limited number of complimentary tickets (valued at $10 each) to organizations and groups that have a special interest in promoting quality end-of-life care and valuable conversations about those decision. These tickets are limited to attending the drama and roundtable discussions that follow.
Laughhunn goes on to say, “The play ‘Holding On ~ Letting Go’ increases our understanding of the complex and difficult dynamics involved in helping a loved one live fully to the end, yet say goodbye.” Such work is part of Calvert Hospice’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about end-of-life issues, Laughhunn added.
This performance will be directed by Keith Hight, Coordinator for Theater and Dance with the College of Southern Maryland. Keith Hight cites personal experience with hospice and underscores his decision to direct the play, “It is important to understand what hospice care is, and what it is not. Hospice and palliative care is not a place; it is a philosophy of care. It is about transferring the decision-making process to the patient and designing their care accordingly. It is about ensuring dignity and support for the patient throughout their unique end-of-life journey. This play helps with those tough decisions.”
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