[StBernard] Tulane student pens play about Murphy Oil spill

[Westley Annis]

NEW ORLEANS - The Murphy Oil Corp. spill has been in the headlines
frequently since Hurricane Katrina. 
Now the issue will be on stage. 
At 6:30 p.m. today, Tulane University will present a play, "Welcome to
Chalmette," documenting the spill in St. Bernard Parish. The play will be
performed in the Freeman Auditorium of the Woldenberg Arts Center. 
The play is part of the university's 12th annual Environmental Conference on
Law, Science and the Public Interest, which runs today through Saturday. 
Tulane law student Mary Nagle created the play, which is based on more than
30 interviews with Chalmette residents who were affected by the oil spill
from the Murphy Oil USA refinery. According to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the spill impacted more than 1,700 homes. 
Nagle said the play primarily follows the lives of seven people in the
aftermath of the flood and oil spill. All the material is based on fact, she
said. 
Tulane law student Lauren Checkie will direct the play, which features an
all-law-student cast. 
Admission to the play is free, but attendees are asked to donate $5 to
benefit the Chalmette community.