Adam Driver has been all over the place promoting the next addition to the Star Wars franchise. If you've seen any of his appearances, he mentions his time as a marine and how theater helped him assimilate civilian life. In an exclusive at Vice, Driver promotes his next venture: Arts in the Armed Forces.
Their mission statement reads:
"AITAF bridges the cultural gap between the United States Armed Forces and the performing arts communities by bringing the best modern American theater to the military free of charge. AITAF programming accentuates the shared humanity of all Americans by using performance to unite artists and service members and encourage dialogue."
Mr. Driver is quick to point out that after his time served in the military, he tried to navigate his way back to normalcy but not without overcoming much adversity in the process. Acting, for Driver, served as a way to reestablish himself as a civilian in his day-to-day life.
Equipped with this new knowledge, Driver set out to bring acting to veterans and service men and women and started the non-profit, Arts in the Armed Forces.
"We're hoping to show that language is a powerful tool, that self-expression is a powerful tool - it's just as valuable as any rifle you carry or any tool you can put in your pack," Driver said to Vice.
With partner Joanne Tucker, AITAF set out to bring the message to vets overseas, from Germany all the way to the Middle East. Their mission was to bring some depth to the entertainment provided to vets--outside the parameters strictly encompassing cover bands and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
Other actors that are a part of the organization include Natasha Lyonne, Eric Bogosian, Peter Scolari, Sasheer Zamata and many more.
Check out the exclusive below and take a peak at Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it hits theaters Dec. 18.
