Black Ensemble Theater Kicks Off Inaugural International Theater Festival Today

Black Ensemble Theater (BE) has announced the first annual International Theater Festival, today, June 23-August 2013. The Festival, at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street, will use various cultural arts to explore the global impact of racism and how its ramifications across the globe relate to the fight at home.

The International Theater Festival will highlight a variety of art forms, including dance, music, and film, with a discussion following every performance. Black Ensemble Theater will offer the opportunity to talk about injustices across the globe while highlighting how we, as human beings, can help to diminish the effects of a global racist society.

The Festival opens today, June 23-25, 2013 with Curfew, a multi-media dance, music and visual production by Karim Tonsy. The Festival continues July 21-22 with the Romanian film After the Fall-HIV Grows Up, looking bck at the Pandemic of Pediatric AIDS in Romania and the health care workers on the front lines. A third production will be announced for August 25 and 26, 2013.

The schedule for the First Annual International Theater Festival is:

DANCE

Curfew

Origin: North Africa

Written, choreographed, and performed by Karim Tonsy

Founder of Karim Tonsy Egyptian Physical Dance Theatre (KTED)

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Monday, June 24, 2013

Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at

Performance times 7:30 p.m.

Curfew is a Middle Eastern/North African multi-media experience bringing the art of dance together with music and powerful visual elements which include stirring images of the 2011 revolutionary uprising in Cairo's Tahrir Square. The piece ushers in a transformation of an oppressed society to one with promise, hope, and equality. It's a transformation from personal, religious and social confinement to freedom, choice, and opportunity.

This emotionally charged story expresses through dance, music and video that the denial of basic human rights and dignity can be broken and a new life envisioned.

Performed by Karim Tonsy with such extraordinary power and talent, we feel his pain, the warmth of his heart and tenacity of his spirit. This groundbreaking work looks beyond race, cultural, and religious obstacles delivering a universal message of faith, hope and love.

KARIM TONSY

Karim Tonsy is an international choreographer from Cairo, Egypt. After finishing his studies in theatre and movement at the American University in Cairo, Karim attended London Contemporary Dance School for further training in contemporary dance and choreography. He began his career with the establishment of his Dance Company (Karim Tonsy Physical Dance) directing his first performance in Cairo, Egypt. In the years that followed, Karim choreographed and directed over 20 dance performances and won several awards.

Karim has experience working with directors from Egypt, Italy, London, > Lebanon, and most recently, Chicago. In addition, Karim has choreographed music videos for a range of the Middle East's most

popular artists. Karim has worked with notable dance companies and choreographers including Frantic Assembly in London, Roberto Casarotto in Italy, and Caracalla Dance Theatre in Beirut, Lebanon.

Karim's critical acknowledgements include: Best performance Critic's Award at the Cairo Experimental Theatre and Best Achievement Award at the Cairo International Modern Dance Festival. Highlights include the opening performance for the Alexandria International Modern Dance Festival in 2004 and 2005, and choreographer for award recipient Latifa to honor Best International Dance Album in the 2004 World Music Awards in Las Vegas

Karim has choreographed the Miss Egypt ceremony in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Karim also choreographed and acted in several movies and plays for international director Youssef Shahin (Silence We R Shooting), and Mohamed Sobhi (Carmen and Lebet El Set).

Since moving to Chicago Karim has choreographed performances for several companies including the Silk Road Festival and Chicago Cultural Center (Gay Games). Productions include Eden? (Raven Theater) Sharia Mohamed Ali (St Patrick Performing Arts Centre) and Pendulum (Portage Theater) Club (Athenaeum Theatre) and Reset (Stage773).

FILM

After the Fall-HIV Grows Up

Origin: Romania

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Monday, July 22, 2013

Performance Times 7:30 p.m.

In 1989, as communism fell across Eastern Europe, doctors and nurses in Romania quickly discovered they were dealing with an epidemic of Pediatric AIDS in their hospitals and institutions. With a lack of medicine and very limited knowledge of the disease, many health care workers risked their lives to help the nearly 13,000 children infected with HIV and AIDS. This highly motivational film takes a look back with those who were on the front line, and a look forward at the hopes and challenges for those who, against all odds, are growing into independent young adults.

Presented by TOMORROW PICTURES INC. Director and Cinematographer FR3Derick, produced by Ellen Barnard, written and edited by Brian Funck, Created and executive produced by Kathleen Treat in association with The Speranza Foundation.

The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center International Theater Festival will be held at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street. Valet parking is available. Tickets, are $50.00 and are available online at www.blackensemble.org or by calling the Black Ensemble Theater at 773-769-4451.

Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.

On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The new facility includes amenities such as a 299-seat main stage theater (double the capacity of the original venue); 14 offices, classroom space; rehearsal hall, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, and wardrobe rooms; seven dressing rooms; rehearsal room for musicians; front lobby space with concession areas; and an indoor parking garage. In addition, a 150-seat studio theater, which will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI), is in development as part of a long range strategic plan for the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center.

The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.