DAYS AND NIGHTS: Two Chekhovian Interludes at La MaMa ETC, Previews 9/17

New adaptations of two short stories by Anton Chekhov -- created and performed by an international company of Korean, Taiwanese and American theatre artists -- will receive their New York premieres this fall when DAYS AND NIGHTS: TWO CHEKHOVIAN INTERLUDES debuts at La Mama ETC (74A East 4 St.) in Manhattan, with preview performances beginning September 17 prior to an official press opening September 20, 2009.

Comprised of the one-acts, "The Doctor, A Chamber Opera," and "A Joke, A Musical," DAYS AND NIGHTS is adapted and directed by Byungkoo Ahn, a third generation member of Korea's most prominent theatre directing family. Composed by Martin Herman with a libretto by T. F. Curley, "The Doctor, A Chamber Opera" is based on the 1887 Chekov story and visits the mindscape of a physician overcome with grief and uncertainty as he visits a dying young boy he has reason to believe is his illegitimate son. "The Doctor, A Chamber Opera" had its world-premiere in 2002 in Prague and Bruno in the Czech Republic with the help of The Trust for Mutual Understanding, an American foundation for cultural and environmental exchange between nations.

Based on Chekhov's 1886 tale, "A Joke, A Musical" features music by the composer regarded as the father of the popular Korean love song, the late Young Hoon Lee. The musical was created by Byungkoo Ahn, who blended Chekhov's tale of unspoken love with the celebrated, heartbreaking love songs of Mr. Lee, the most prominent composer of popular ballads in Korea. Lee's music was especially popular with young people in the 80's and 90's during that period of great political and social change in Korea. Today's generation remains familiar with Young Hoon Lee's music through popular remakes recorded by a new generation of Korean singers. According to Mr. Ahn, Chekhov was the favorite author of Young Hoon Lee, who died in 2008.

Chekhov's "A Joke" is the story of a man who lives with the memories of his first love: too shy as a boy to confess his love to the girl he adores, he recalls whispering in her ear words of love she never hears over her own screams as their sled flies down a silvery, snowy hill.

Musical arrangements and musical direction for "The Joke" by Heesun Hailey Chang is music director.

The cast of DAYS AND NIGHTS features: Young Joon Chai, In Sook Kim, Sook In Em, Steven Sun and Choi Misun.

The production has costume design by Leon Wiebers, set design by Jose Ho and sound design by Curtis Curtis.

Born in Seoul, Byungkoo Ahn is a director, playwright, designer and singer. At the age of 20, Mr. Ahn's production of 'Cavalleria Rusticana' was invited by 'Young Theatre Festival' at the National Theatre of Korea. Two years later, his production, 'Play' by S. Beckett was performed again at the
National Theatre. In 1996 he was awarded the Mampist Grant, which is given to young exceptional artists for their further study by Samsung Foundation of Culture. Mr. Ahn received his MFA in theater directing from UCLA in 2000, and he served as a stage director of opera workshop programs at California State University, Long Beach and Chongshin University. His directing credit includes 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' with Opera California, 'La Calisto,' 'Dido and Aeneas' and 'Impresario' with CSULB Opera, and 'Orlando' and 'Consumer's Paradise' with Downtown Opera. As a singer/actor he also has appeared in several productions in Italy since 1995 as a member of La MaMa Umbria
International. Most recently he sang the role of 'Milo' in the world premier, Il Corvo, directed by Ellen Stewart at the Venice Biennale Festival, Italy in the summer of 2006.

Under the guidance of the legendary Ellen Stewart, La Mama E.T.C. enjoys international recognition as the home for theatrical experimentation. La MaMa was the first Off-Off Broadway theatres to support full-time resident companies, and was the first Off-Off companies to tour Europe. La MaMa has been honored with numerous OBIE Awards, dozens of Drama Desk Awards, Bessie Awards
and Villager Awards. In January 1993, Ellen Stewart was inducted into the "Broadway Theatre Hall of Fame" becoming the first Off-Off-Broadway producer to ever receive this honor. In 2006, Ellen Stewart received a special Tony Award for supporting theatre artists of all nations and cultures in the development, production and presentation of new work. In 2007, she won the Prestigious Praemium Imperiale Arts Award, which is the Noble Prize for the Arts, named by Japan Art Association.

La MaMa's heritage continues to grow with programs at Ellen Stewart's La MaMa Umbria, an artist residence in Italy, where international understanding is promoted through cultural exchange. La MaMa Umbria has, in the past 20 years, presented over 30 theatre productions as well as workshops, art exhibitions, and conferences.

From September 17 to October 4, DAYS AND NIGHTS will perform Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by calling the La Mama box office at 212-475-7710 or by going online at www.lamama.org.

 

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