PRESS RELEASE    
September 20, 2017

Contact: Olivia Zink (603) 715-8197

Theatrical Performance Tours New Hampshire to Promote Campaign Finance Reform

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE --- Throughout October, more than a dozen communities across New Hampshire will be treated to performances of “Granny D: The Power of One” a play which portrays the efforts of one woman to draw attention to the need for campaign finance reform and her contention that money in politics had betrayed our representative democracy.

The play chronicles the 1999 cross country walk, at age 89, by Doris ‘Granny D’ Haddock, a lifelong New Hampshire activist, from Santa Monica, CA to Washington, D.C.  The trek included crossing more than 1,000 miles of desert, climbing the Appalachian Range in blizzard conditions, and even skiing 100 miles after an historic snowfall made roadside walking impossible.

Actress and playwright Dixie Tymitz, who received Haddock’s blessing for the project, will bring Granny D and her legendary feat to life.  Reflecting on what inspired her Tymitz joked, “Doris ruined my life as it was, because I never could say again that I was too old to make a difference.  She was as willing to give her life as any soldier.  I feel compelled to tell her story.”

Following an enactment on board the Semester at Sea where Archbishop Desbond Tutu enjoyed it, he commented “I am amazed at Dixie’s performance and the unbelievable story of Granny D and her unbelievable walk across the country calling attention to the problem of campaign finance reform in the United States.”

The October performances are sponsored by Concord-based Open Democracy.  Initially founded by Haddock, Open Democracy is a non-partisan organization working to reduce the corrupting influence of money in politics to ensure an equal voice for all.  Olivia Zink, Executive Director, said “The Power of One project is a legacy of Granny D.  We are continuing her work to restore democracy and ‘escort the bullhorns of big money from the room.’”

Zink added, “Our democracy is in the middle of an historic upheaval.  Last year, political donors spent millions on New Hampshire elections -- and that’s not even counting the presidential race.  Never before has it been more clear that ‘the ends of government are perverted and public liberty manifestly endangered.’  With billionaires and special interests influencing our elections it’s time for a solution.”

Performance schedule: 

Tuesday, Oct.3rd at 2 pm, Keene State College, Putnam Hall Redfern Arts, 90 Wyman Way, Keene, NH 

Thursday, Oct. 5th at 6:30 pm, Keene Public Library, 60 Winter St, Keene, NH 

Friday, Oct. 6th at 7 pm, Rochester Performance & Arts Center, Rochester, NH

Tuesday, Oct.10th at 6:30 pm, Portsmouth Library, 175 Parrott Ave. Portsmouth, NH 

Thursday, Oct. 12th at 7 pm, Bow Library, 509 South St., Bow, NH

Saturday, Oct. 14th at 7:30 pm, Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 West Broadway Derry, NH

Monday, Oct.16th at 6:30 pm, Norwich Public Library, 368 Main St., Norwich,VT

Friday, Oct. 20th at 7 pm, UU Church, 20 Elm St. Milford, NH

Sunday, Oct 22th at 2 pm, Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St.Nashua 


In addition the play will be performed at high schools and middle school from Keene to Hampton, and audiences of adult learners from Concord to Hanover. 

For more information about the performances, contact Olivia Zink (603) 715-8197