Contact: Raquel Garcia
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March 10, 2009
New Film on Henry Thoreau Comes to Public Television and Movie Theaters on Earth Day
Earth Day Network Partners with Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau
WASHINGTON, DC - Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau, an original story written and produced by folksinger Michael Johnathon, is about the final two days Henry David Thoreau spent in his cabin before leaving Walden Pond. More than 7,200 colleges, schools and community theaters in 37 countries have registered performances of the play since it was written 24 months ago.
The Walden play has been produced as a high-definition broadcast for public television and movie theaters, to debut around Earth Day (April 22, check local listings). The film begins with a documentary of Thoreau's life, set in Walden Woods, followed by a full live-audience production of the Walden play, starring actor Adam Luckey as Thoreau. The production will also be streamed into schools across North America through Earth Day TV, www.earthdaytv.net.
During Walden, the dialogue between Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson is culled from their actual literary works. Johnathon also created two fictional characters, Joshua and Rachel, to offer a common and often humorous perspective on the overtly intellectual musings of Thoreau and Emerson. These characters challenge Thoreau’s seclusion at Walden Pond, and spark a conversation that encourages balanced protection of nature while reflecting Thoreau’s passionate love for it.
“There are Walden Ponds all over the world,” Johnathon tells the audience at the end of the film. “There are little cabins in our hearts. Whether you’re in a third floor condo or a farmhouse, Arizona or Canada, or Europe or New Jersey, wherever you are, caring about your hometown, that’s the essence of what Henry David Thoreau wrote.”
The Walden production was written, produced, filmed and edited in Lexington, Kentucky. The documentary portion of the film was shot at Thoreau’s actual cabin site at Walden Pond State Park in Massachussetts. The project is underwritten by E.ON-US, with educational support from Washington, DC-based Earth Day Network and American Forests.
“The Walden project has, in many ways, opened new doors for the teaching of environmental education in conjunction with the arts,” said Earth Day Network’s Director of Education Sean Miller. “The release of the movie in theaters across the nation, on Public Television, and online through Earth Day TV will allow Thoreau’s message to reach far more people than ever before, and Earth Day Network is proud to be part of this wonderful initiative.”
he Walden DVD & CD Gift Set will be released in September of 2009, and includes extra features like “The Making of Walden,” conservation tips, extended interviews, plus a complete 20-page Lesson Plan. Also included is Michael Johnathon’s 12 song CD, Walden: The Earth Song Collection. To bring Thoreau into living rooms, Johnathon has organized local "Walden Parties" nationwide, complete with music and organic recipes to encourage community viewing of the Walden DVD.
Schools and community theaters can receive the Walden performance script and lesson plans free of charge by writing to producer@waldenplay.com and requesting a password. Visit www.waldenplay.com for more details.
About Michael Johnathon
Michael Johnathon is a folksinger, touring performer, author, tree-hugger, and now playwright, who also created and hosts the weekly broadcast of the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, syndicated to 492 stations including XM/Sirius Radio (XM-15 The Village). WoodSongs streams millions of shows a year online, plus airs in 65 million US-TV homes as a weekly series on public television across North America. Visit www.woodsongs.com for information.
About Earth Day Network
Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. Our campaign and programs are predicated on the belief that an educated, energized population will take action to secure a healthy future for itself and its children. Earth Day Network has a global reach with a network of more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.
