Edition No. 20
In this Edition
Arts and Culture
In part two of our series begun last week, Phoebe Wall Howard, associate producer of …As If They Were Angels, articulates the importance of sharing this moving story.
Community and Family
A unique partnership between The War Memorial and Opera MODO provides a virtual performance opportunity for young musical theater professionals — and a thrilling at-home concert experience for you.
Our American Values
In late February, The War Memorial welcomed three American political scientists to discuss what the polls got right (and wrong) in 2020. The complete lecture is now available to view, free of charge.
...As If They Were Angels
By Special Guest Contributor, Reporter and Associate Producer Phoebe Wall Howard
In the fall of 2019, The War Memorial had the distinct privilege of hosting the premiere of the documentary …As If They Were Angels, featuring two sold-out evenings with commentary from both the film’s director and associate producer. Last week we featured the personal story of the film's director, Terry Strauss. This week, we invited the film's associate producer, Phoebe Wall Howard, to articulate her thoughts. With the film available for on-demand screening, Phoebe writes about her memories associated with producing this film, as well as its unique connection to The Patriot Theater at The War Memorial.
Phoebe Wall Howard
Associate Producer of …As If They Were Angels
There are no words to describe my gratitude.
As an alum of Richard Elementary, Brownell Middle School, and Grosse Pointe South, I knew The Grosse Pointe War Memorial as a place where I spent hundreds of hours in ballet class and, eventually, graduation night with classmates watching Animal House.
After returning to Detroit following decades on the west coast, I discovered The Patriot Theater as a venue for independent film. And I met an incredible team led by curator Bruce Ferguson who believed in screening great work. As associate producer of …As If They Were Angels, I hatched a plan.
We had screened our film at festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis. We knew what it meant to sell out. But this would be different. This would be the film’s public debut as a distribution deal was being negotiated.
So I called Terry Strauss, the film director based in Mill Valley, California. We met hiking on Mount Tamalpais years ago. When I told her we should screen our documentary at The Patriot Theater in The War Memorial, Terry wondered what to expect.
You showed your support at back-to-back sold-out film screenings and standing ovations.
…As If They Were Angels is a World War II story of tragedy and heroism that is known by few in the U.S. I invested in the project in honor of my grandfather, a U.S. Navy veteran whose family owned a paint shop in Corktown.
Our War Memorial audience included active military, veterans, old classmates, local film junkies, and sailors families who heard about the film through social media. The Canadian Consul to the U.S. in Detroit co-hosted opening night in October 2019. It was a celebration of our military alliance.
Since then, people have written us and followed the film on Facebook, asking when it would be available. It just began streaming on Amazon, Apple, Google, and Vudu. We have had thank you letters from around the country.
And, to think, it all started at The War Memorial on Lake St. Clair.
So many people are streaming our 85-minute film now. I hope you will, too.
This film restores our faith in humanity and each other.
Phoebe Wall Howard on The War Memorial’s Inspired Heroes
In October 2019, Terry Strauss and the film's associate producer, Phoebe Wall Howard, were guests on our radio show Inspired Heroes. Listen below as they share with our hosts Marie Osborne and Ted Everingham the moving details behind making this film, their personal connections to telling the story, and why hosting the premiere at The War Memorial just seemed perfect.
“It is refreshing and incredibly touching to discover a part of our history through a more intimate and personal narrative. ‘…As If They Were Angels’ beautifully encapsulates the legacy of the brave souls. Hopefully, it will live on and continue to inspire future generations.”
Watch …As If They Were Angels
As the pandemic hit, screenings and consideration of the film were put on hold. Thinking quickly to share this story, the film shifted towards distribution in Canada, landing on CBC’s documentary channel, and in the US. The film has now been officially released on multiple streaming platforms. To view …As If They Were Angels on your preferred service, click or tap below. Fees may apply. The War Memorial has no association whatsoever with the following distributors.
The War Memorial and Opera MODO:
A Collaborative Cabaret
This past weekend, the historic Alger House reverberated with exhilarating performances from the musical theater songbook as Opera MODO joined forces with The War Memorial to professionally record a virtual cabaret. In true collaborate fashion, Opera MODO’s directors, Danielle Wright and Dr. Steven McGhee, worked alongside War Memorial arts leadership to program a performance of thirteen songs covering a wide variety of musical theater genres. Filmed with the utmost respect for social distancing and other COVID-19 safety precautions, the technical production was overseen by another War Memorial partner, the Chamber Music Society of Detroit.
Brooks Hoste, War Memorial vice president of community engagement and programming, said, “This virtual performance is vitally important not only as entertainment for our audience, but also for the performers themselves. COVID-19 had a massive impact on the performing arts; those of us who are artists have a compulsion to create, and without an outlet for this creativity, it’s almost as if the color is drained from the world. In working with Opera MODO, The War Memorial wanted to offer an opportunity for young theatrical professionals to feed that part of their soul that simply requires performance. And, as an audience, we’re just lucky enough to look in!”
The complete hour-long virtual concert will become available later this month across all War Memorial digital platforms.
Watch this space for more!
Break From the Line by Joey Contreras
Performed by Lexie Farrer and Stephanie Herman
Dr. Steven McGhee, Collaborative Pianist
What The Polls Got Right — And Wrong — About The 2020 Election
On February 24, we held our third online event as a part of Our American Values — a recording of that event is available below.
Three American political scientists, Professor Michael Martinez, Professor Jeff Hill, Professor Julio Borquez — and some students from Albion College — recently joined us to engage in a riveting conversation on what the polls got right (and wrong) in 2020. This important conversation considers the effects polling has on elections and the impact on our democracy in general. This program was produced at The War Memorial and runs 60 minutes.
About Michael D. Martinez
Michael D. Martinez is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Professor Martinez’s research interests include the relationships between partisanship, issue preferences, and vote choice, as well as the causes and consequences of voter participation. His current research interests include a collaborative examination of how much (or little) variations in turnout matter to the outcome of elections. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Calgary in 1994 and has been a visiting professor several times at the University of British Columbia. Professor Martinez earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan.
About Jeff Hill
Jeff Hill is a Professor of Political Science at Northeastern Illinois University and is a former chair of his department. Earlier in his career, he taught at Moorhead State University and Michigan State University. Professor Hill’s teaching and research focus on American Politics and Public Administration with a primary focus on 1) the impact of delegation on public policy, and 2) the impact of campaigns on elections, and particularly the impact of campaign appearances. Professor Hill earned his Ph.D. at the University of Rochester.
About Julio Borquez
Julio Borquez is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Professor Borquez’s teaching and research have been concentrated in the areas of Voting and Elections, Media and Politics, Urban Politics, and Research Methods. He has a deep body of experience in survey research beginning with 1982’s Michigan gubernatorial election as a research assistant for the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR) in Ann Arbor. Professor Borquez earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan.
Inspired Thoughts is a collection of highly curated content that embraces the spirit and purpose of The War Memorial: arts and culture, community enrichment, leadership, and patriotism.
Derived from the notion that learning from others is the key to success, Inspired Thoughts is meant to shine a light on those making a difference in the world around them. This collection features artists, poets, writers, architects, and every thought leader in-between. Inspired Thoughts is the strongest reflection of what The War Memorial stands for, and what we aim to be.
The content featured on Inspired Thoughts is curated by War Memorial leadership — we also look forward to featuring special guest curators in the near future. If you are interested in providing content for Inspired Thoughts, please email our Community Engagement team at bhoste@warmemorial.org.