For Immediate Release: July 29, 2024
Contact: Lisa Veglahn, Sr. VP for Education, [email protected]
New Play Focuses on Advance Care Planning for LGBTQ+ Families and Caregivers
Washington, DC – Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) has added a new version of the short play “Lily” by award-winning playwright Bryan Harnetiaux to its AD (Advance Directives) Project, a collection of plays that dramatize the importance of advance directives.
In the play, Jo visits her ex-wife, Lily, who is seriously ill. Jo is surprised that after years apart, Lily has asked to see her. She is even more surprised by Lily’s request that Jo serve as her surrogate decision maker when or if she cannot make healthcare decisions for herself.
Hospice Foundation of America’s AD Project uses two-character, 10-minute plays featuring different relationships and settings. The plays are easy to produce and are intended for use by hospices, hospitals, and other community-based organizations wanting to engage audiences in discussions about advance care planning.
The world premiere of the newest version of “Lily” was produced by Accord Hospice & Palliative Care in Sedona, AZ, in partnership with PFLAG Sedona, Unify Sedona, and the Sedona International Film Festival. “Although only being a 10-minute production, the well-crafted story hits home for all those who are facing end-of-life decisions and also those who are seeking to understand the critical decisions that are ahead for all of us…the play conveys the urgency of having a plan with both dignity and humor,” said Breinne Reeder, director of the production.
In addition to the two versions of “Lily” (one with a male-female divorced couple and the new version), the AD Project collection of plays includes “Gil,” which portrays a conversation between a medical social worker and Gil, a patient whose resistance to completing his advance directive causes her to confront her own end-of-life wishes, and “Room 402,” in which a seasoned nurse practitioner and an inexperienced colleague have a frank discussion about a patient in their care, capturing the different approaches clinicians use when helping patients and families engage in difficult conversations about end-of-life choices and care.
One-year licensing agreements for the plays are available through HFA. Both versions of “Lily” and “Gil” are licensed for community and professional audiences; “Room 402” licensing restricts performances to healthcare and social service professional audiences.
The plays can be performed anywhere and by anyone. In addition to the scripts, HFA provides licensees questions to use in a moderated post-play discussion to encourage audience participation. Each agreement allows for 20 performances. The affordable licensing fee includes an electronic copy of the play; suggested post-play discussion questions; templates for social media posts and advertising; templates for programs and flyers; and tips from other organizations that have used the plays for education and community outreach. Fees are discounted if more than one play is licensed under the same agreement.
More information can be found at here or by emailing Lisa Veglahn, Senior Vice President for Education, at [email protected]
