My Name is Rachel Corrie returns to Virginia to be Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. M. Hillary directs the play, reviving the April of 2008 run in Staunton, Virginia. The 2008 production had three packed performances.

Based on the writings of Rachel Corrie, the play has been opening to an increasing number of theatres in the U.S. since it first opened in New York two years ago.

In Charlottesville at the Ix Event Space on May 7, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, the Virginia Organizing Project, Lander Creative and the Ix Project. Find more information here.

In Harrisonburg at Eastern Mennonite University’s main stage on May 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. Sponsored by EMU’s theater department and the Conflict Transformation Center. For more information or to book, see the university’s website.

Director Simone Bitton’s 2008 documentary on Rachel Corrie is opening in North America for the first time this week at the Tribeca Film Festival in Lower Manhattan. At left is a scene from Simone Bitton’s Rachel (Image courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival).

Showings of the film are set for Tuesday, April 28, Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1. To find locations and book seats, visit the Rachel page at the Tribeca Film Festival website.

“She took a stand that many disagree with, and she knew that. Everyday I see so many young people afraid to take a stand, afraid to get involved or even to express a strong opinion, afraid of displeasing the powers-that-be. We teach them not to take chances, lest they imperil their possibility of getting good grades and eventually a good job.” Liberata’s blog has an interesting, frank review of My Name is Rachel Corrie, which you can read here.

I saw a young woman who could not help but see that there was a bigger world out there beyond Olympia and who struggled to understand if there was a place for her in that big world and, if so, just what that was. The young college student’s diary entries ring true. Even though it’s now so long ago, I still remember.

Craig and Cindy Corrie are scheduled to speak about their late daughter’s peace efforts in Gaza during the Tuesday meeting of the Democratic Study Group at Panorama.

The event starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Quinault auditorium, 1835 Circle Lane S.E., in Lacey. It is open to the public, regardless of political viewpoint.

This letter was written in support of CODEPINK to mark Rachel’s 30th birthday:

Today would be the 30th birthday of my daughter Rachel, who was run over by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza in 2003 as she tried to save a Palestinian family’s home from demolition. Last month, when my husband Craig and I traveled to Gaza with CODEPINK, it was so moving for us to reconnect with the families and the children that Rachel cared so deeply about.

The 793,520 children of Gaza (56% of the population) have lived under occupation and siege all of their lives. They suffered unconscionably through the attacks and devastation inflicted upon them by the Israeli military during twenty-two days of horror in December and January. Hundreds did not survive. But those who did, still smile and laugh like all children. They are beautiful, resilient, curious and full of potential. They deserve the basics that all children in the world should have: ample food, clean water, healthcare, safe places to play and learn. They deserve the tools to deal with their nightmares, and sleep that is not punctuated by bombing. They deserve life, freedom, and hope. We can be a part of the hope and the solution by arming ourselves with the experience, knowledge, and insight to be stronger advocates for these children and their families–to open the borders, to end the siege, to end the occupation, and to see justice prevail.

We hope you will join CODEPINK in the campaign to Speak Out for the Youth of Gaza.