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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:30] Douglas Taurel: Douglas is going to tell us all about this piece that he has masterminded called The American Soldier. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much for having me. I've felt pretty much insane many times doing this play.

[0:48] Robert Bannon: Right before we hit record, I asked Douglas how to say his last name, but if you notice, I chickened out because I always say that once I ask you how to pronounce your name, Douglas, I say it wrong instantly. It's just a matter of fact.

[0:59] Douglas Taurel: Don't worry about it. It's Taurel.

[1:01] Robert Bannon: Taurel. Yeah, Taurel. Okay. So tell me, how long ago have you decided to start working on The American Soldier? And why our story? Why did it move you to talk about the military?

[1:15] Douglas Taurel: Well, I lived in Hoboken for a very long time. And so when I came here in 2000, trying to make my way as a young actor, I was a personal trainer and I trained in Whitehall Street. There was a gym called New York Health Racket Club. And so I would take the path underneath to the World Trade Towers. And so I was there when 9-11 happened. And so after 9-11 happened, I saw the towers fall and everything. And I mean, I was right there at ground zero. And I just became obsessed with what was happening in the Middle East. I just, you know, I was really angry. I was frustrated. I was scared. And I just kept reading and reading and reading. And I had a young gentleman, oh, not a young gentleman, an older gentleman, an older gentleman named John Hawkins.

He was a really dear friend and a mentor. And we were both very different political allies. He was a gay man. He sang in the gay chorus, but he was my client. And we would have these really just polite banter. You know, I wanted war. I wanted to go to war. And he was like, you know, we shouldn't go to war. And he said, you need to write a play. And so he would bring me newspaper articles about what was happening in the Middle East and what's happening. And I just became, it just hit something in me. I became obsessed with it. I would go to New York Public Library. And so anyway, fast forward, I kind of, I put this thing together. I had the privilege of working with Craig Lucas and some other great teachers and directors.

And I finally had a version of it up in 2014. And I performed it for the first time in 2015. I was going to perform it at the New York Fringe, but you seem much younger. The New York Fringe in 2014 went bankrupt. And I don't know if you remember that. And so they were like, there is no fringe. And I was like, what? And so then I started applying to every little festival that I could, because I just wanted to get up. It was 20 minutes. And I didn't even know if it was going to be any good. You know, I just, you know, as an actor, it was my form of kind of, you know, activism. I wanted to remind people in New York that we were at war. And the thing that really affected me is reading stories about men and women who are doing four or five, six deployments, and they couldn't pay their bills.

That really bugged me a lot. And I thought it was unfair. You know, I thought it was unfair that you go off to war and, you know, you get shot at, and then you can't, you can't pay your bills. So I finally got an opportunity to perform at the Bowery Poetry Club, a festival called One on One. And I remember Nancy Kelly, I'll never forget her name. I had applied to her earlier, and she turned me down. And she said, you know, I don't think your play is right for this festival. And I said, but I wish you luck. And then she called me up on Memorial Weekend. And on 2015, on a Sunday, like a Thursday, she goes, can you perform Sunday? Someone dropped out. And we need a replacement. And I think you would be okay.

You'd be great for it. And I said, sure. She goes, you just have to be off book. I go, I'm off book. I'm ready to go. I had no costumes. So I went into a thrift shop in the city. I bought a version of what looked like a military shirt and, and, and some pants. And I performed it for eight people. It was a sunny, it was a rainy Sunday. And out of the eight people, three were mine. One was my director, a photographer and a friend. That was it. And, but after I finished the play, I got like a standing ovation, but it wasn't the standing that was a big deal. It was that I felt the play had a voice and then a Gold Star sister. And for those who don't know what a Gold Star family member is, it's when you lose a family member in combat.

She lost her brother the year prior in Afghanistan. And she came up to me and she was in tears. And she said, you know, I don't, I hope you know what, I don't know if you know what you're doing, but I hope you keep going. It's really, it's really special. And it's really important that you keep going. And that was the first time I thought maybe I'm onto something. Maybe this is a play that people really want to hear. And so then me and my director got together, Patrick Lillis. He's pretty well known for directing one man shows and we flushed it out. We gave it more balance. I performed 14 characters, men, women, and children, many different ethnicities, female combat vets. And like I said, it's the idea is to share what the American soldier is.

It's all these different parts, ethnicities that have served over the great long standing history. And then I took it to Scotland, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. And that's where the play took off because I got nominated for an Amnesty Award. And after that, everybody wanted to do it regionally and here we are, 10 and a half years later, I'm talking on the round table.

[5:56] Robert Bannon: You sure are. 10 and a half years later. And what's incredible is this run is now coming to New York City and you have the chance to see it. And while we're talking, I want everyone to be able to get their tickets, TicketTailor.com. The link is below. Opening night is December 4th and it's going to be running. So you have a whole three week engagement at ART right there on 53rd Street. And in 90 minutes, you play 14 different characters. What is the arc of the story? Is it in modern day? Is it through time? Like what is the story that you're trying to tell?

[6:26] Douglas Taurel: Yeah. So I tell, so in my research, I started, there's a lot of themes that kept coming up and going all the way back to the revolution. And the one thing that kept coming up is we have, unfortunately, a habit of forgetting those who served in the military. And so I started a habit of forgetting those who serve. And that's been very true. So I based the play off all infantrymen from the revolution all the way through Iraq and Afghanistan. So I tell 14 characters and they're all from different eras. And only one character comes out three times. He shares, I've learned three powerful lessons in the military. And he comes out with the first one is discipline. And he comes out later and he says teamwork.

He talks about every man is, no man is above another man and we need to work together. And then the final lesson he learns is brotherhood. But in between those three pillars, what I call it is all the different stories of service and sacrifice from the civil war, from the revolution, from Vietnam, from Iwo Jima. And there's a lot of similarities and a lot of differences. And the play has humor. It's funny. It has an uplift. And I think that's what the success of the play has been. It's been the uplift of it because I think if it was Debbie Downer all the time, I think people would just say, I've seen it. I don't want to see that again. But because it has an uplift, because there are some beautiful things about the military that we don't really realize as non, I never served, but we don't really understand why it is that people choose to serve and why it is that people choose to go back four or five, six times to combat zones into the theater when you're like, why would you go back?

But then the final lesson is what brings it all together. And I try to do many different ethnicities. Men, I do a female combat vet. I've always done women. I added a female combat vet during COVID. I do children. I try to really, I'm a son of immigrants. And so I try to weave in what the American story is. It's all these different backgrounds and ethnicities that have served over our 250 years to make this place what it is. And so that's the play, really. It's going to be brilliant, everybody.

[8:50] Robert Bannon: You've got to get your tickets. You've toured this. I'm the grandson of immigrants. I think we all come from somewhere in this country. And what I love about what your story is saying is we owe such a debt of gratitude to the men and women who served in the armed forces. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, no matter what you think of the current state of the world, we are here living in the United States in freedom because people risked their lives. People died for our rights to have the rights that we have, to disagree, to vote, to argue, to live in this crazy, imperfect democracy that we live in. For you, when you go 34 cities, you toured around the country. You played at the Kennedy Center. You've been all over. What's it like to show this story that it's not a political story? You're not giving a political opinion. You are telling the incredible story. So even if you don't see eye to eye, this show is forever.

[9:37] Douglas Taurel: Thank you for having me, Robert. I'm really excited to be here to talk about "The American Soldier" and its return to New York City.

[10:07] Douglas Taurel: It's been quite a journey, and this show has been a labor of love for over a decade. The stories we tell are so important, and I think they resonate now more than ever.

[10:37] Douglas Taurel: The piece is based on real letters and experiences from veterans and their families. It’s a way to honor their sacrifices and share their stories with a wider audience.

[11:07] Douglas Taurel: Each character I portray brings a different perspective on service, and it’s a challenge to embody all fourteen of them in one performance. But it’s also incredibly rewarding.

[11:27] Douglas Taurel: The emotional weight of the stories is something I carry with me. I want to make sure I do justice to their experiences and the sacrifices they’ve made.

[11:37] Douglas Taurel: The reactions from the audience have been profound. People often come up to me after the show, sharing their own stories or how the performance impacted them.

[11:47] Douglas Taurel: It’s a reminder of the power of theater to connect us and to bring these important conversations to the forefront.

[11:57] Douglas Taurel: This new engagement in New York feels particularly urgent. With everything happening in the world, I think it’s crucial to keep these voices alive.

[12:07] Douglas Taurel: I’ve seen how the show can spark dialogue about veterans' issues, mental health, and the realities of service. It’s a conversation we need to have.

[12:17] Douglas Taurel: The challenge is to balance the heavy themes with moments of hope and resilience. It’s about honoring the past while looking towards the future.

[12:27] Douglas Taurel: I’ve learned so much from the veterans I’ve spoken with. Their stories are filled with courage, trauma, and ultimately, a desire for understanding.

[12:37] Douglas Taurel: I think audiences are craving authenticity and real stories. They want to feel connected to the characters and the experiences being portrayed.

[12:47] Douglas Taurel: This show is not just about the military; it’s about humanity and the shared experiences that bind us all together.

[12:57] Douglas Taurel: I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these stories and to continue this important work. It’s a privilege to be a part of it.

[13:17] Douglas Taurel: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s heartening to see people moved by the performance.

[13:27] Douglas Taurel: I hope that as we move forward, we can keep the conversation going and continue to honor those who have served.

[13:47] Douglas Taurel: The show is a reminder that we all have a role to play in supporting our veterans and understanding their experiences.

[14:07] Douglas Taurel: I’m looking forward to this run in New York and hope to reach even more people with these important stories.

[14:27] Douglas Taurel: It’s about creating a space where these voices can be heard and appreciated, and I’m committed to that mission.

[14:47] Douglas Taurel: Thank you again for having me, Robert. I can’t wait for everyone to see the show.

[15:07] Douglas Taurel: It’s going to be an incredible experience, and I hope it resonates with audiences just as it has with me.

[15:27] Douglas Taurel: The journey of bringing this show to life is ongoing, and I’m excited to see where it leads next.

[15:47] Douglas Taurel: I believe that art has the power to heal and to bring about change, and that’s what I hope to achieve with "The American Soldier."

[16:07] Douglas Taurel: It’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of sharing our stories.

[16:27] Douglas Taurel: I’m honored to be a part of this conversation and to help amplify these voices.

[16:47] Douglas Taurel: Thank you for giving me the platform to share this important work.

[17:07] Douglas Taurel: I’m looking forward to the upcoming performances and to connecting with the audience on a deeper level.

[17:27] Douglas Taurel: It’s all about creating a dialogue and fostering understanding, and I’m committed to that mission.

[17:57] Douglas Taurel: I appreciate the support from everyone involved in this project and the opportunity to bring these stories to life.

[18:25] Douglas Taurel: Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to honor those who have served our country.

[18:53] Douglas Taurel: Thank you, Robert, for this opportunity to share my passion for this work.