Trinity Repertory Company “Someone Will Remember Us” by Deborah Salem Smith and Charlie Thurston, and co-created by Dr. Michelle Cruz, Smith, and Thurston. Directed by Christopher Windom, this production tells the powerful, real-life stories of local Iraq War veterans, resettled refugee, and their families. 

“This show is incredibly necessary right now because it is about how people have a remarkable ability to come together after conflict,” the Laura H. Harris Artistic Director Curt Columbus said. “It shows us that no matter what side of a conflict someone is on, people face the same struggles and consequences. It shows Rhode Islanders and their stories from a global perspective and gives us hope for the future.” 

In 2006, Trinity Rep told the true, poignant stories of Rhode Islanders deployed in Iraq with the play “Boots on the Ground.” Nearly 20 years later, how does this legacy live on… and what have we forgotten? “Someone Will Remember Us” interlaces the real-life testimonies of U.S. military veterans, a Gold Star family, Iraqi civilians, and refugees living in Rhode Island. As conflict wages on multiple fronts around the world, this production paints a moving portrait of the innumerable tolls of war, and how we find connection throughout. 

“Someone Will Remember Us” and 
“Boots on the Ground” playwright Deborah Salem Smith said, “When we did ‘Boots on the Ground’ soon after the US invaded Iraq, everything about the war felt sudden, changing individuals, families, and entire communities. Two decades later, we still have troops in Iraq. Those touched by the war are still coming to terms with the profound impact it has on their lives and the lives of others. I am struck by the fact that although there are heartbreaking moments in these stories, there is also humor, sweetness, and hope. It has been such an honor to meet so many incredible people, both for the original project, and now many years later for this new play.”  

“Someone Will Remember Us” continues Trinity Rep’s longstanding tradition of community partnerships. Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, a nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans in need; and Refugee Dream Center, a post-resettlement agency serving refugees from all over the world who have since made Rhode Island their home, are two such partners that Trinity Rep will uplift during the run. 

“Someone Will Remember Us” runs Jan. 23 - Feb. 23, 2025. Tickets are available at trinityrep.com/remember, by calling (401) 351-4242, or in person at the Ticket Office at 201 Washington St., Providence.