Charlestown Theatre Receives Grant to Bring ODYSSEY to Armenia Festival

The Charlestown Working Theater has been awarded a grant from the Trust for Mutual Understanding to support an exchange between CWT and the National Center of Aesthetics Small
Theatre based in Yerevan, Armenia NCA Small Theatre, Vahan Badlayan, Artistic Director. Funding from TMU will allow the CWT to bring their performance "The Odyssey" to the High Fest International Performance Festival in Yerevan, Armenia in October, 2010.

NCA Small Theatre will present their acclaimed dance-theatre performance "Seventh Sense" to the CWT in January, 2011. "We are thrilled to receive 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 a fantastic opportunity for us, and we are excited to bring Small Theatre's beautiful performance to our audiences."

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.

CWT's "The Odyssey" is an adaptation of Homer's epic poem for two people traveling together in a small boat, sailing across a half-real, half imaginary landscape - a kaleidoscope of one-eyed giants, tarot priestesses, and seafarers surrounding the story of Odysseus and Penelope.

The Trust for Mutual Understanding makes grants to American nonprofit organizations to support the international travel component of cultural and environmental exchanges conducted in partnership with institutions and individuals in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe. Priority consideration is given to projects that involve direct, in-depth professional interaction, with the potential for sustained collaboration; that show evidence of professional accomplishment and innovation; and/or that respond to social contexts and engage local communities. CWT Resident Artists Program Armenia's NCA Small Theatre will join other national and International Artists who have participated in residencies at the CWT. CWT has presented the work of Mabou Mines (NY, NY); Double Edge Theatre (Ashfield, MA); Theatre Kranvit (Berlin, Germany); Grupo Jicara Teatro (Buenos Aires, Argentina); Beau Jest Moving Theatre (Boston, MA); Great Small Works (NY, NY); Zuppa Circus (Nova Scotia, Canada) and Center for Theatre Practices ‘Gardzienice' (Poland), among others. In addition to NCA Small Theatre, CWT's 2010-11 season includes performances by Jola Cynkuits and Khalid Tyabji (Poland), Double Edge Theatre (Ashfield, MA) Blair Thomas and Company (Chicago, IL).

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