Golden Thread Productions Presents:
Reclaiming Norooz: Reflections of Rebirth & Survival from the Clutches of War
Friday March 20, 2009
$10 adv. $12 dr. - 8pm
For advance tickets click here.
La Peña's Community Action Series, in partnership with Golden Thread Productions, presents an evening of dramatic readings addressing the wars in Iraq and Palestine. Plus Iranian New Year Celebration, and Middle Eastern music and dancing.
La Peña Cultural Center in partnership with Golden Thread Productions presents
Honoring Norooz, the Persian New Year, & Spring
Maxine Hong Kingston will introduce readings by Veterans' Writing Group, contributors to the anthology Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace,
In the evening, at 8pm March 20, in partnership with Golden Thread Productions, La Peña will present Reclaiming Norooz: Reflections of Rebirth & Survival from the Clutches of War (Koa Books) an evening of dramatic readings from Maxine Hong's anthology Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace including Iraqi War Veterans telling their story, addressing the wars in Iraq and Palestine and music by the Ebrahimi Brothers and Palestinian oud player, Saed Muhssin. The evening will culminate in an Iranian New Year Celebration with Middle Eastern music and dancing with the Ebrahimi Brothers.
Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace is a harvest of creative, redemptive storytelling-nonfiction, fiction, and poetry-spanning five wars and written by those most profoundly affected by it. For more than fifteen years, National Book Award-winning author Maxine Hong Kingston has led writing-and-meditation workshops for veterans and their families. The contributors to this volume-combat veterans, medics, and others who served in war; gang members, drug users, and victims of domestic violence; draft resisters, deserters, and peace activists-are part of this community of writers working together to heal the trauma of war through art. Reading their words, we witness worlds torn apart then rebuilt. This epic and timely work is the distilled wisdom of warriors and their loved ones, expressing themselves with breathtaking artistry and truth. The book will be available for sale.
In the morning, at 10am March 20, building on La Peña commitment for quality art education in our schools, about 150 kids from 3 neighborhood elementary schools will be attending the Fairytale Players' theatrical performance of The Girl Who Lost Her Smile, an educational theatre performance incorporating story, music and dance from the Middle East. It is the story of young girl called Jehan, a long time ago, in the ancient city of Baghdad. When Jehan smiled by day, the sun shone brightly. "When she smiled at night, the stars glittered and sparkled…"
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