Members of the Charlestown Working Theater will travel to Yerevan, Armenia to perform their acclaimed adaptation of The Odyssey at the HIGH FEST International Theatre Festival Oct. 1 through. The CWT was awarded a grant from the prestigious Trust for Mutual Understanding (TMU) to support the project, which includes an exchange between CWT and the National Center of Aesthetics Small Theatre based in Yerevan, Armenia. TMU is a foundation that encourages communication, understanding, and collaboration between Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the United States through international exchange in the arts and environment.
CWT’s performance The Odyssey played to sold-out audiences last fall and early spring. The Boston Globe called the performance “inspiring… a haunting and hypnotic version of Odysseus’ journey”. The production was created and is performed by CWT’s Jennifer Johnson and John Peitso, who also wrote the original score. Also touring will be CWT teaching artist Marji Gere, and CWT artistic associates Dan Sedgwick and Jill Comer.
"We are thrilled to have received this grant, it’s an honor for us to be recognized by TMU" says Jennifer Johnson, CWT Co-Director. "The Trust has funded some of the foremost artists in this country and supported many incredible cultural exchanges between U.S. artists and their Eastern European and Russian counterparts. Going to HIGH FEST is an amazing opportunity for us, and we are excited to bring Small Theatre’s beautiful performance to our audiences. Our Armenian partners also have a fantastic childrens’ program, and we are hoping to bring back everything we learn directly to our students."
NCA Small Theatre will present their acclaimed dance-theatre performance "Seventh Sense" to the CWT in January, 2011. The Performances NCA Small Theatre’s Seventh Sense is a performance inspired by "The Book of Lamentations" by the 10th Century Armenian poet, musician, and philosopher G. Nareghatsi. Artistic Director Vahan Badalyan describes the performance as a contemplation of the human body and soul, a practical meditation. The performance is a collaborative project, a collaborative performance created with Italy’s Versiliadanza Cultural Association.
For more information about this and other CWT programs visit www.charlestownworkingtheater.org.