Columba University School of the Arts Presents THE COUNTRY AND THE HAPPINESS, 3/31-4/3

Columbia University, School of the Arts Theatre Arts Program Presents  The world premiere of

THE COUNTRY AND THE HAPPINESS

3 individual journeys, 1 common language: music

Conceived and Directed by ONUR KARAOGLU

March 31 - April 3, 2010

The Riverside Theatre

91 Claremont Avenue

Between 120th and 122nd Streets

$15 General Admission

$5 Seniors

FREE with Columbia University ID or any other valid student ID

(Subject to availability)

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Based on real-life recorded interviews and developed under an intricate improvisational process, this multimedia experience portrays the stories of three musicians. The Country and the Happiness is an international, multiracial theatrical event, where piano, jazz, and rap sounds all coexist together on stage and become the creative vehicle through which the characters talk about music, life, success, faith, hope, and disappointment. It all leads up to one main question: How can one be happy and find pure artistic expression in a life full of struggles?

(All performances at the Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Avenue between 120th and 122nd Sts.)

Wednesday, March 31 at 8pm

Thursday, April 1 at 8pm

Friday, April 2 at 8pm

Saturday, April 3 at 2pm & 8pm

The cast includes Jason Martin, Daniel Maté, Adam Miller, Jeremy Pickard, Grayson Powell, Monica Santana and Roderic Williams.

The creative team includes Onur Karaoglu (Director), Ji-Youn Chang (Set Designer), Joe Novak (Lighting Designer), Meg Zeder (Costume Designer), Amy Altadonna (Sound Designer), Octavio Warnock-Graham (Video Designer), David G. Schultz (Dramaturg), Regina Vorria (General Manager), Gretchen Page (Company Manager) Amanda Raymond (Production Stage Manager), Kate Croasdale and Christina Najera (Assistant Stage Managers).

Onur Karaoglu is originally from Istanbul and is the founder and Artistic Director of the non-profit Studio 4 Istanbul, an independent company that produces cinematic and theatrical works and searches for new methods of expression in both disciplines. Columbia University directing credits include his own adaptation of Uncle Vanya, Emperor Jones and Revolution Trilogy (an adaptation of Brecht, Genet and Fassbinder texts). His theatre and film works have been featured in worldwide festivals over fifteen countries including the Netherlands, Canada, Korea and Australia. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and Film Studies from Bogazici University in Turkey.

Tickets for events at The Riverside Theatre can be purchased online (www.ColumbiaStages.org) or by visiting the box office of The Riverside Theatre. Box Office hours are Thursday-Saturday, 4-8pm; Sunday 12-4pm and 1 hour prior to all performances.

Columbia Stages is the producing arm of the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies of Columbia University's School of the Arts. Columbia Stages presents a season of graduate actor and director productions as well as an annual festival of new plays by emerging playwrights. The theatre program offers M.F.A. degrees in acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, stage management, and theatre management and producing. The goal of the program is to provide each student with the foundation for a career in professional theatre as well as the tools to embrace an ever-changing theatrical landscape and shape the future of the theatre.

For more information, visit

http://www.ColumbiaStages.org

or

http://www.CountryandHappiness.com

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