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Correspondence Between Adrienne Kennedy and Nadia Maher

From 2008 to the present, playwright Adrienne Kennedy and Egyptian scholar Nadia Maher were in correspondence. This is an edited selection of emails they exchanged while Nadia was working on her Master’s thesis during the Egyptian Revolution.

TIMELINE
 

2011

  • January 25: Protests demanding the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak begin and continue for eighteen days.
  • February 11: Mubarak resigns from office.
  • May 24: Mubarak is ordered to stand trial on charges of murder of more than 800 peaceful protesters.

2012

  • June 2: Mubarak is found guilty of complicity in the murders of the protesters and sentenced to life imprisonment.
  • June 24: Mohammed Morsi wins the presidential election.
  • June 30: Morsi is inaugurated as the fifth President of Egypt.

2013

  • July 3: Mohammed Morsi is deposed by a coup led by minister of defense Gen Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian Armed Forces.
  • July: September Protesters, many of whom were part of the Muslim Brotherhood [a Sunni Islamist political group], condemn the military and call for a return of Morsi to power, while other protests occur in support of the military. It is estimated that there are more than 800 causalities during this time.

2008

From: Nadia Alaal
Date: July 18, 2008 6:49:32 AM EDT
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Some questions

Hi my dearest playwright, I want you to tell me something about your “technique” and your “style” in your writings. Where can I find a book that includes your symbolism and your characters? I’ll wait your reply. What about Clara Passmore? Is she Clara as Clara in A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White. In the Adrienne Kennedy Reader I can’t find your autobiography, People Who Led to my Plays and A Beast’s Story. Where I can find them?

I will wait you to tell me your technique in writing.

Yours,

Nadia Maher

2009

From: Nadia Alaal
Date: March 24, 2009 12:27:05 AM EDT
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: I want your help if you please

Dear Writer,

I am in a plight. The faculty refused the title of the thesis. I offered you the title and you said “ Fractured is the best.” The staff said “this is a kind of repetition for Rosemary Curb’s article “Fragmented Selves in Adrienne Kennedy’s Funnyhouse ... and The Owl Answers.” also Barnsley E. Brown’s article “The Tragic Mulatta and (Dis)Integration of Identity in Adrienne Kennedy’s Plays.” I do not know what can I do. I collected all the sources and intend to make an interview with you. Do you think it is a kind of repetition? I added A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White, but they did not agree. Please, help me. The fractured identity is the main point in your writing, what can I do? Could you help me? I want thesis to be about you. Here, I did not find any thesis about your writing. This is my dream to write about your major plays. Do not let me drown.

Sincerely,
Nadia

From: Nadia Alaal
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Sent: Mon, October 26, 2009 3:41:19 AM
Subject: How are you?

My dear playwright,

How are you? I want to know your news and your last production. I have bought every book [that] concerns you. Today I try to write the first chapter of my thesis about your plays. It is about race, gender, and female criticism in your writings and in the second part I’ll explain some autobiographical elements in your life. Do you have any advice about this chapter? Could you guide me in this direction, please?

I hope you are in good health. Thank you, goodbye.

Yours,
Nadia Maher

2011

From: Adrienne Kennedy
To: Nadia Alaal
Sent: Sat, February 12, 2011 6:59:27 PM
Subject: Re: How are you?

Dear Nadia,

I just wanted to say congratulations to you. We are all so happy with the wonderful news coming from your country.

Best wishes,
Adrienne Kennedy

From: Nadia Alaal
Date: November 21, 2011 5:58:45 PM EST
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Re: How are you?

My Dearest Playwright,

How are you? I hope you to be in good health. I want to tell you that everything here in Egypt is OK. What we do here nowadays is to protect our freedom and stability. Egyptians discover that their revolution have been stolen from them. So, we (Egyptians) decide to obtain our freedom and stability by going to Al Tahrir [the public square in Cairo] and staying there. You know well that Al Tahrir is a symbol of the Egyptian’s revolution here. It is a most important place in Egypt. Actually, if we don’t protect our revolution, we will return to the last regime of Mubarak. This is what we fight to avoid. This is the latest news in our country. Thank you.

Best wishes,
Nadia Maher

No Date Stamp

My Dearest Playwright Adrienne Kennedy,

How are you? It honours me to read these words from you. Egyptian Revolution is the greatest thing in the life of all Egyptians. We struggled to obtain our dignity. 25 Jan, 2011 is a mark of honour. I cannot describe my feeling. All people in Egypt are very happy. I think all the peoples in the world are happy for Egypt. Thank you my dearest writer. I desire to be in touch with you. My connection with you is a mark of honour to me. I hope you good health and happy life.

Yours,
Nadia

From: Nadia Alaal
Date: December 17, 2011 2:44:21 PM EST
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Re: Fwd: KENNEDY blog infoletterfromegypt

Dear Kennedy,

How are you? I hope you to be in a good health. I want to say happy new year my dearest writer. I know well that you are concerned with the latest news in Egypt. Actually, things in Egypt are not bad. Egyptians cross the difficult road of Parliamentary elections nowadays. You know, the participation of Egyptian women in the voting process since the beginning of the first round of the 2011 parliamentary elections has been remarkably strong. The results of Egypt’s first parliamentary elections after the 25 January Revolution have radically changed the political scene, confirming the popularity of Islamist groups and the retreat of liberal and leftist political parties that dominated the stage over the past six decades. The results are not final yet, and there remain two stages of voting on 14 December and in early January. Till now Islamist groups are likely to win at least 60/70 percent of the votes, if not more, forming a majority in Parliament big enough to pass the legislation they want.

Yours,
Nadia Maher

2012

From: Nadia Alaal
Date: February 4, 2012 4:49:20 AM EST
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Good morning

Dear Kennedy,

Good morning wishing you a day full of sunny smiles and happy thoughts. I know that you are interested in Egypt’s news. You know that the former president Hosni Mubarak’s thirty-year rule was ended after massive protests and demonstrations gripped the country one year ago. While the protests were peaceful, the response of Mubarak’s security agencies wasn’t. More than 1,000 Egyptians were martyred and another 6,000 injured. The families of victims and the injured have been seeking justice against the perpetrators of their suffering. Generally, you should know that the remnants of the former regime (Mubarak regime) are trying to resist revolution, and are willing to destroy the country to achieve their ends if necessary. The former regime elements hire thugs to attack demonstrators and members of the public. We (Egyptians) have lived many years of depression and frustration. It’s agreed that we have felt different after the January 25 Revolution.

On Feb 8, 2012, at 7:45 AM Nadia Alaa, wrote:

Dear Kennedy,

How are you? I hope you good health and happy life. You have asked me about my work. Yes, I am a researcher of faculty of Arts, English Department, Cairo. I remember that I have told you about my work. Actually, I am interested in Afro-American literature. Particularly, I am interested in your plays: Funnyhouse of a Negro, The Owl Answers, and A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White. My thesis tackles the idea of colour dominance in these plays. These plays are similar in their search for identity and the fragmented selves of the protagonists. I am also writing about the theme of violence in Ohio State Murders. My playwright Kennedy, you should know that my thesis is going to be the documentary source in Egypt for the researchers because my thesis concerns your writing and you only without mixing with another playwright or comparison. Through your plays, you aim to reestablish the personal and cultural identity against the distorted society. I am alluding here to the domination of the white supremacy. Actually, one problem faces me in your plays, I cannot classify the nature of the plays if they are racist plays and heal racism or black feminist plays and deal with the third wave of feminism that is the black feminism. In your writing, you deal with female and female experiences at the same time. When bell hooks was asked as a feminist critic, a feminist theorist, how would you locate Kennedy’s work? the answer is “any feminist discussion of female subjectivity would be enhanced by a discussion of Kennedy’s work” (bell hooks, “Critical Reflection,” 181). My dearest writer, I am going to discuss my MA thesis the next two months. In the next email, I will write about the latest news concerning the Arab Spring. Would you mind my dearest writer to write or help in writing about people’s revolutions? I am trying to collect information about this idea. It may be the title of my Ph.D. People’s revolution becomes the heart of the truth in our society. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” (Martin Luther King). I like these words.

All the best,
Nadia Maher

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: February 8, 2012 11:00:22 AM EST
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Re: Many Returns

My dear writer,

It honours me to write a thesis about you and your work. I have asked my supervisor if I can add your photographs to the thesis! She agrees to add them under the title of appendix. It is a great success to me. Thank you for your help. I will mention your co-operation with me in my acknowledgment. Actually, you deserve more than I describe.

Sincerely,
Nadia Maher

From: Adrienne Kennedy
To: Nadia Alaa
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 4:10 PM
Subject: Re: Many Returns

Dear Nadia. if. you want to use the paragraph I sent you today in your
thesis, please do.

It really is the sum of what I feel.

Adrienne

Will write again.

Adrienne

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: February 15, 2012 11:33:29 AM EST
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: The spirit of loyalty is coming back

Dear Kennedy,

Nothing is worse than living aimlessly. We have lived many years of depression and frustration. After the January 25 Revolution, we have felt different. We are all in love with our new found freedom. Now, we have rejected what we have done wrong in our lives. We have the ability to differentiate between the good from the bad. We try to co-operate in order to reconstruct our country. The only thing we realize is to work and forget our personal interests. Actually, the presidential elections will be the remedy. Security in our country is in fact great success. Egypt differentiates from the other countries by its security and warmth.

Sincerely,
Nadia Maher

From: Adrienne Kennedy
To: Nadia Alaa
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:38 PM
Subject: Fwd: Picture by itself Adrienne

picture in lobby of new signature theatre. on 42nd st. new york

Thumbnail

 

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: February 29, 2012 11:55:22 AM EST
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Re: Fwd: Picture by itself Adrienne

Thank you my dearest writer for your support and help to me. I really appreciate your precious time and effort. I will put the pictures in my thesis under the title of appendix. Actually my favourite writer, I am enamoured of you and your plays. I admire your writing. I hope you good health and happy life. You deserve more than what I can describe you with.

Nadia

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: April 17, 2012 7:42:36 PM EDT
To: Adrienne Kennedy

Dear Kennedy,

These are some of pictures of my MA thesis discussion. I have sent you a picture of the referee committee highly respected members: Prof Dr Ibrahim Mohamed el Maghrabi, the professor of the English literature in the faculty of Education, el Mansoura university (the head), Prof Dr Fawzya Shafiq el Sadr, the professor of the English literature in the faculty of Arts, Ain Shams university (supervisor and member), Dr Sara Abed el Rahim Rash wan, the assistant professor of the English literature in the faculty of Arts, Ain Shams university (member). I really appreciate their precious time and effort. My supervisors are Prof Fawzia El-Sadr, Prof of English Literature, Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University and Prof Ayman Alhalfawy, Prof of English Literature, faculty of Arts, Kafrelsheikh University. I extend to them my most heartfelt thanks. I wrote in the acknowledgment of my thesis the following words about you:

I wish also to express my special gratitude and sincere thanks to Adrienne Kennedy, the playwright, for her valuable guidance and wholehearted help. No words can ever express my deep appreciation and gratitude to her.

All the best,
Nadia Maher

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: April 20, 2012 12:00:20 PM EDT
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Plaque

Dear Kennedy,

I hope these pictures to be a source of happiness to you. The plaque starts with the title “General Invitation from Nadia Maher Ibrahim, A researcher in the English Department, Faculty of Arts, Kafresheikh University in Cairo.” Then, the title of the thesis and its translation in English (“Color Dominance in Representative plays by Adrienne Kennedy”) and the Arabic Language as you see. Then, the referee committee consists of:

Pro. Ibrahim Mohammed El- Magraby, Professor of English Literature. Pro. Fawzia El- Sader, professor of English Literature, and Prof. Sarah Rashwan, Professor of English Literature.

Nadia

Thumbnail

The Fateh Mosque had been turned into both a morgue and a field hospital by Morsi supporters until the standoff with security forces began. In spite of this, people gathered to protest all over the country including the capital in defiance of the curfew. My dear, I'm not related to Muslim Brotherhood but I support them and defend my vote. Islam, my dear Kennedy is not terrorism. Islam is mercy and love.—Nada Alaal

From: Adrienne Kennedy
To: Nadia Alaa
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 4:15 AM
Subject: Happy????

Dear Nadia

Are you happy.about the about the outcome of the election?

Adrienne

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: June 26, 2012 6:18:19 AM EDT
To: adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Re: Happy????

Yesssssssssssss, we are very happy. This is the first and true election in the history of Egypt. All Egyptians are happy because we need new faces and new work. We need one feels what Egyptians need. We are really happy. Egypt deserves more and more, Kennedy. We feel safe and secure in our society. We feel that Egypt is our own land. 25 JANUARY REVOLUTION proved its success. We need more and more success. Thank you for your attention. Salam.
 

On Jul 3, 2012, at 5:59 AM, Nadia Alaal wrote:

I’m so happy. Finally, Revolution has achieved its goal. Hoping Egypt more and more success.

From: Adrienne Kennedy
Date: July 12, 2012 10:53:08 AM EDT
To: Nadia Alaa
Subject: Re: Finally, Freedom

Nadia

This just a Question I always wanted to know. What was the cloth your dress was made. of at the Masters Ceremony. It was so beautiful.

Adrienne

On Jul 27, 2012, at 4:06 AM, Nadia Alaal wrote:

Dear Kennedy,

How are you? I hope you good health and happy life. Everything here is going well. Actually, I miss you and your writing. I try to prepare the final form of my PhD Plan. I will put your advice into consideration. I want to tell me your opinion about “Multiculturalism.”

Yours,
Nadia

From: Adrienne Kennedy
Date: July 27, 2012 4:41:03 AM EDT
To: Nadia Alaa
Subject: Re:

Nadia

I hate all those terms. A writer should write for everyone. Great writers reach everyone in the world. My favorite novelist is Charles Dickens. All those academic terms and definitions are pointless
Adrienne
Beethoven reaches all people. Louis Armstrong reaches all cultures.
 

On Sep 21, 2012, at 3:39 AM, Nadia Alaal wrote:

Dear Kennedy,

Actually, your work and style inspire me. I am glad to be able to write about your plays. During your life, I found you an outstanding student. Your ideas are original and exciting. You are pleasant, hard-working and reliable person. I have shown all your ideas, style, and technique in my thesis. I am trying to transfer your culture to my country. I ‘m trying to find a scholarship to America in order to complete my study and learn more and more. It will add to my knowledge.

With kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nadia Maher

From: Adrienne Kennedy
To: Nadia Alaa
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 10:57 AM
Subject: MORSI

Dear. Nadia
Saw Morsi UN speech on tv. His concerns were all concerns that I think are crucial. Pretty impressive guy.

Adrienne

From: Nadia Alaa
Date: September 29, 2012 6:39:18 AM EDT
To: Adrienne Kennedy
Subject: Re: MORSI

Dear Kennedy,

This is just a neutral opinion:

Dr. Morsi was elected in rounds one and two of the June election. He was the Freedom and Justice Party candidate, the party that was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood. I quite frankly did not expect from President Morsi that power and intelligence, and the ability to manage a delicate stage in the history of Egypt, and be able to cope with all this corruption and move progress and quietly from one stage to the other, out of fear for the security of Egypt and stability. His thought depends on reform, not demolition and construction. The man certainly proved to me that the Muslim Brotherhood have the ability to manage the state, although some cause crises, including their leaders and competencies.

2013

On Jun 25, 2013, at 5:15 AM, Nada Alaal wrote:

Dear Kennedy,

What’s up? What about you and your health? As for me, I try to have an acceptance letter from an American University. Pray for me. I think that I am about approaching my dream of completing my study in States.

Yours respectfully,
Nadia

 

On Jul 13, 2013, at 9:57 AM, Nada Alaal wrote:

Dear Kennedy,

How are you? I am as you hoping Egypt is heading in the right direction. Dear Kennedy, I hope you know what an important thing is happening. What is happening in Egypt is an usurpation for our January 25 Revolution. The remains of Mubarak regime fight to turn our country into mess, but they cannot do this absolutely, because we are standing against them. This is our right to defend what we say “al-Sharia.” this action is not actually directed to Mohammed Morsi but against Islam in fact.

I will write later.

Nadia

From: akennedy
To: Nada Alaal
Date: Friday, July 5, 2013 15:34
Subject: Stunned

I am stunned by the events in Egypt. I truly hope the country is heading in the right direction. It all seems so very complex.

Adrienne

From: akennedy
To: Nada Alaal
Date: Sunday, July 14, 2013 16:22
Subject: Re: Stunned

Dear Nadia,

I feel fearful for Egypt. I do wonder why didn’t the opposition meet with

Morsi and try to work through their grievances. After all that struggle for a democratic election this sequence of events does seem tragic.

Adrienne

From: Nada Alaal
Date: July 15, 2013 5:36:44 PM EDT
To: akennedy
Subject: Re: Stunned

Dear Kennedy,

You likely know well that the last regime was dominated by the Egyptian businessmen. They try to steal our revolution through the coup against legitimacy. As I told you the last time “legitimacy means in Egypt Elshareia of Dr. Morsi. Actually, he is not bad man. He is concerned with our affairs and tries hard to get rid of the remains of Mubarak’s regime, but you know these people represent the businessmen in Egypt and defend for Mubarak so they played role to revolt against legitimacy. Kennedy, I want to tell you I am anti coup. I’m with legitimacy.

I will write later.

Nadia

From: akennedy
Date: July 16, 2013 5:14:11 PM EDT
To: Nada Alaal
Subject: CNN INTERNATIONAL

Dear Nadia,
I can feel your anguish.
CNN International, where I get a lot of my news, has in the last days in a subtle manner reinforced criticism of Morsi.

And people like Christiane Amanpour and Becky Anderson seem to, again in a subtle way, side with the opposition without explaining this shift. Last week there were just more and more guests who strongly criticized Morsi. This shift against Morsi is quite confusing to me.

All of this is very subtle.

I myself do not understand how a country can fight so hard for a democratic election and one year later overturn it.

Nadia, I regret that you are suffering, so I hope you and your friends’ voices are heard and have influence.

I do not understand the monumental complexities.
Adrienne

From: akennedy
Date: July 16, 2013 5:36:50 PM EDT
To: Nada Alaal
Subject: A minute ago

A young journalist, a woman last name Kiran Khalid? She appeared to be quite respected by interviewer Christiane Amapour, Said she feels Egpyt. has suffered a setback and that the army is a part of the government and that cannot be denied.

CNN appeared to agree with the journalist who writes about. Syria

That is the first segment in many days where CNN agreed with Khalid that Egypt has suffered a SETBACK.

Adrienne

On Jul 25, 2013, at 6:38 PM, Nada Alaal wrote:

Dear Kennedy,

You know that our country suffers a lot. We will meet a difficult day tomorrow. Pray for Egypt, Kennedy. Egypt is a big country but the remains of Mubarak’s regime want to destroy it. I am sure that legitimacy will win.

From: Adrienne Kennedy
Date: July 25, 2013 7:42:10 PM EDT
To: Nada Alaal

Dear Nadia,

I will pray for you tomorrow.

Love, Adrienne

From: akennedy
Date: July 29, 2013 7:57:20 AM EDT
To: Nada Alaal
Subject: Alright

Dear Nadia

Seeing the pictures on CNN international--

I hope you are alright.

Adrienne

From: akennedy
Date: July 29, 2013 9:05:33 AM EDT
To: akennedy
Subject: Egypt Warns Of Wider Crackdown On Protesters: The Two-Way : NPR

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/28/206331588/egypt-warns-of-wider-crackdown-on-protesters

From: akennedy
Date: July 29, 2013 11:47:13 PM EDT
To: akennedy
Subject: Nadia Alaa

She wrote to me from Cairo. She was writing her master’s thesis on my plays. I never dreamed there would come a moment when I would be fearful for her life. But today I am.

From: akennedy
Date: July 30, 2013 10:05:42 AM EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: I am worried about this scholar

When I see the crowds and the killing in Cairo
I am worried about her.

From: Nada Alaal
Date: August 17, 2013 7:12:05 PM EDT
To: akennedy
Subject: Worried

Dear Kennedy,

Egyptian security forces clash with Muslim Brotherhood supporters who have been staging sit-ins in Cairo calling for the reinstatement of their leader, former president Mohamed Morsi.

Our rejection of the coup regime has become an Islamic, national, and ethical obligation that we can never abandon. Anger on the streets was directed at army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who moved against Morsi last month after massive street rallies against his administration that had been dogged by accusations of incompetence and partisanship.

You see Kennedy; violence erupted almost immediately with gunshots ringing out in Cairo and security forces firing tear gas. On the last Wednesday, Egypt lived in a bloodbath day. You can say massacre nearly 5,000 were killed. I have seen hundred of corpses and dozens of injured people.

The latest unrest started as Morsi supporters emerged from mosques to protest in what they billed as “a Friday of anger” following Wednesday’s bloodbath. I can't believe another massacre “A day of rage” turned into an evening of bloodshed as dozens of people were killed across Egypt on Friday. Hundred of corpses had been laid out on the Mosque of Alfateh in Ramses square and dozens injured. The Fateh Mosque had been turned into both a morgue and a field hospital by Morsi supporters until the standoff with security forces began. In spite of this, people gathered to protest all over the country including the capital in defiance of the curfew. My dear, I'm not related to Muslim Brotherhood but I support them and defend my vote. Islam, my dear Kennedy is not terrorism. Islam is mercy and love. I will tell you what is Islam in the coming mail.

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Newest First

The seeds of this conversation were planted during my first email with
Adrienne Kennedy as a researcher. I had been introduced to works of Kennedy at
the end of my undergraduate studies and I was fascinated by her writing. My
interest in Afro-American drama encourages me to pursue the works of Kennedy. Most of all, I appreciate the kindness and
generosity shown to me by Adrienne Kennedy. Actually, my dissertation wouldn't
be what it is without the support and guidance of Kennedy. Actually, no words
can ever express my deep appreciation and gratitude to Kennedy. Her help and
love have greatly supported me. I extend to her my most heartfelt thanks.

Actually, I wish to express my special gratitude and sincere thanks to Adrienne Kennedy and Nadia Maher. This conversation shows how people of different cultures can cooperate through love and assistance.

This correspondence is a rare and genuine experience of acquaintance through space and time between two persons belonging to two different cultures and ideologies. It presents an example of how different people can get acquainted, cooperate, sympathize and feel with each other. "We created you", God says in the Holy Quran, "from male and female and made you peoples and tribes to get acquainted". The keyword here is "acquaintance" and it is the message of Islam to the human race throughout the ages. I only heard about Kennedy from Nadia and I was always impressed by such a sense of fondness the latter had toward her. What really touched me most in the whole script is the growing sense of worry, care, prayers and the humane bond between the two.

What an amazing exchange. Adrienne Kennedy is a true hero. Her generosity and humanity shine through all of her writing, but this document is remarkable for so many, many reasons. I hope the young Egyptian scholar is okay.

Adrienne Kennedy writes in a fierce and uncompromising voice. Funnyhouse of a Negro is one of those astonishing plays.

The plays and fiction of Adrienne Kennedy have had a profound impact on me as an artist; so, too, has her courageous example of walking a path of scrupulous honesty. The radical vulnerability required to do that, to honor the multiple, often contradictory experiences we have can be costly indeed in a larger cultural reality that privileges reduction and those things which are easily commodifiable - be they works of art, or sound-bite statements. With these things in mind, this conversation across an ocean, across cultural realities, through the vivid yet thorny field of written language resonates as an honest, vulnerable dialogue. Here we see hope and fear, humor, dances of protocol, direct questioning, curiosity and great kindness. Kindness can form a sturdy bridge from the cliff's edge of our understanding and assumptions into the unknown. I am inspired, anew, by Kennedy's example, and that of her partner in this project of communication, Nadia Maher; and I am reminded what a rarity it has become, this sort of presence across time through correspondence. I had the honor of meeting Ms. Kennedy once, when I was the dramaturg for a production of The Owl Answers directed by Rhonda Ross at Brown University's Rites and Reason Theatre. I still remember the palpable weight of her mind. Thank you, HowlRound for sharing this dialogue.