The Gamm Presents Educational Series 5/9

The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) is pleased to present an exciting series of educational and cultural events for the community celebrating the theater's upcoming production of Tom Stoppard's epic play Rock 'n' Roll. Inspired by Stoppard's 2006 masterpiece and focusing on the fall of communist dictatorships in Eastern Europe -- specifically 1989's "Velvet Revolution" in what is now the Czech Republic -- The Gamm will engage scholars and audiences in an ambitious series of lectures, panel discussions and talk-backs exploring the role of art, music, and theater in political transformation.

These events are sponsored in part by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and are open to the public at no charge. Seating is very limited. Please call 401-723-4266 ext. 10 to reserve your seats today.

"Society in Transformation: Dissent and the Velvet Revolution"
Tuesday March 16, 7-9pm

Alexander Levitsky, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Brown University, will provide an in-depth, harrowing overview of Czech politics, describing key figures involved in the "Velvet Revolution," and his own experiences as a refugee in exile from his homeland, the Czech Republic. Czech food and drinks will be served!

Since coming to Brown over 30 years ago, Professor Levitsky has held semester-long teaching engagements by invitation from Charles University, Prague, Hieronimus Pragensis College, Czech Republic, and Harvard University. Currently, he is a Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Brown University. Prior to 2004, Levitsky served as Chair of the Department of Slavic Languages for seven years and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Slavic Languages at Brown for over fifteen years.

"Ideology, the Arts, and Political Change"
Sunday May 9 following the 2pm performance of Rock 'n' Roll

Gary Thurston, Professor of History at the University of Rhode Island, will explore the dramatic events surrounding the complex issues in Stoppard's play, providing historical and political context including: Eastern European history, political science, revolutions both personal and political, the power (and social role) of music and the arts, and the continuing influence of classical culture. The timeliness of the issues will provide a springboard for deep discussion and profound examination of our own historical moment. The seismic shifts and revolutions of Eastern Europe resonate with America today as we witness the transformation of political symbols and the transference of power.

Professor Thurston received his Ph.D. from Columbia University and has published and lectured extensively on Russian culture and history. His current project is a book on "Soviet spaces." Maureen Moakley, Professor of Political Science at URI, will moderate.

More Events to Come!
Visit The Gamm's website at gammtheatre.org for our exciting digital essay filled with music, films, and photographs from the explosive 1960s and '70s, an era detailed in Rock 'n' Roll. Coming March 15.

For more information, visit http://gammtheatre.org/

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