“A powerful one-man show that honors our Veterans and their families.”
-Broadway World
“Many are in tears and asking why this play isn’t better known.”
- Peter Marks, The Washington Post
Connect with the Play!
The American Soldier is a piece of theatre made to HONOR our Veterans and Military families. Its goal is to say THANK YOU to our Veterans and to their families. It is a play to give those who have no understanding or connection to the Military, a better understanding of what service and sacrifices is.
It is a powerful one-man show based on letters from Veterans and their families, spanning from the Revolution to our recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The script has been crafted through extensive research and countless interviews with veterans and their family members. It's a profoundly human story that honors our Veterans and their families and deepens our collective understanding of their experiences.
The American Soldier uses theatre to foster healing, connection, and community. It reminds us of the enduring strength and resilience of the human spirit and what we all have in common as Americans. It has performed in over 40 cities, including some of the nation's most notable theatres, like The Kennedy Center in 2016 & 2019, The Library of Congress twice, Off-Broadway twice, New York Federal Reserve Bank, and American Legion's National Headquarters, and earned a nominated for an Amnesty International Award and received 4 stars out of 5 at the Edinburgh Festival, Fringe for theatre excellence.
The American Soldier invites audiences to journey through the American story. It delves into the lives of 15 Veterans and their family members, sharing their stories of bravery and selflessness. It fearlessly reveals their wounds, using darkness and humor, and gives moments that resound with lasting meaning for audiences old enough to remember and those young enough to yearn for inspiration.
It has been nominated for an Amnesty International Award for theatre excellence, received 4 out of 5 stars at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and been featured in The Huffington Post, The Military Times, The Washington Post, Washington Times, DC Metro, US Veteran Magazine and Time Out, to name a few.
The American Soldier is the American story of how many men and women have put on and are willing to put on the uniform to fight, defend and give the ultimate sacrifice for what our country stands for.
Directed by Padraic Lillis and consulted by Stephen Jobes, and was originally developed in Emmy Award-winner Matt Hoverman's GO-SOLO Workshop.
“Flawless and powerful”
- The Huffington Post
Nominated for the Amnesty International Award
“Taurel gives each voice a sensitive, moving presence…He is utterly unbelievable.”
– British Theatre Guide
"...make the most out of your trip to D.C., go see The American Soldier this inauguration weekend."
– The Washington Post
"The American Soldier is definitely one of the five things you want to do this Memorial Weekend."
– The Austin Chronicle
"His one-man show…he honors our veterans in their own words…"
– The Military Times
“This play is such a wonderful play and a powerful voice for Veterans.”
- Dan Lauria (Star of the TV Series The Wonder Years)
“This play is true in its words and touched me in a very emotional way!”
- Senator Bob Archuleta of California
"Now more than ever, we need theater, like The American Soldier, that unites rather than divides.”
- Veteran Allison Jaslow, Purple Heart Recipient & VP of IAVA
“I saw this play in New York. It is such an important piece for patriotism and for our Veterans,
- Michale Knowles (The Daily Wire)
“Thank you for doing this play Douglas! It means so much to us!”
- Veteran Brian Eisch, Purple Heart Recipient (Netflix, “Father, Son, and Soldier”)
“Thank you for being an enduring voice for our Veterans and Military Families!”
- Scott Mann, Retired Green Beret, Operation Pineapple Express
"An important light!”
- New York Wire
“The play inspires and honors!
- The Los Angeles Wire
“Powerful theatre”
- Chicago Journal
“A remarkable play!
- The Washingont Times
“Transcending and incredibly moving!”
- US Veterans Magazine
“A shining spotlight!”
- DC Metro
“A soloshow that honors the sacrifices for our Veterans!”
- Texas Today
“A voice for our Veterans!”
- Karyn Lloyd, The Library of Congress
“A genuine, honest, and moving performance!
The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
“Dear Mr. Taurel,
My husband and I saw your play at Buena Vista University on Friday evening. I cannot tell you how moved we were by your passion and commitment to telling our soldiers and their families stories.
Thank you for your service to them and our country. I know that you were not able to serve in the military, but you truly are serving our nation’s best, by sharing our veteran’s stories and sacrifice. I cannot thank you enough for what you do, I am so grateful that God placed this on your heart and that you are using your amazing talent to help our veterans, their families and to share all that it has taken to make our nation so great! You are a true patriot!
God bless you and your family!”
The American Soldier at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
“I think what you have created is so wonderful and so important that it tells the story of all of our veterans from all of our conflicts. I was so overwhelmed and moved.”
