THE ANAHID SOFIAN STUDIO
presents

Passage through Light and Shadows:
THE CHILDREN OF ARARAT

October 22-31, 2010
Theatre of St. Clements Episcopal Church
423 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036

Choreographer, Script, Artistic Director: Anahid Sofian
Associate Director: Jeffery Lewonczyk
Guest Choreographer: Gagik Karapetian
Lighting Design: Kia Rogers
Costumes: Meganne George
Video Design: Jeremy Haik
Scenic Design: Joseph Spirito
Performers in alphabetical order:
Harout Barsoumian, Carlos Fittante, Olsi Gjeci, Zobeida Ghattas,
Erin Jennings, Sira Melikian, Nadia Maria Michaels,
Carolin Melkonian, Jean Musacchio, Janet Poriadjian,
Anahid Sofian, Harout Takvorian, Stephanie Vartanian
Narrators: Saro Jahani, Gilda Kupelian, Avery Pearson,
Rosine Tanashian, Vaghenag Tarpinian

Original Show Program PDF

~PROGRAM w/start times~

(For music credits see notes at end of program)

00:00:58
ACT I: THE PRESENT TIME
Poem "Prelude" by Vahram Sofian
Recited by Vaghenag Tarpinian

Poem (Untitled) by Berdjouhi Minassian Sofian
Recited by Gilda Kupelian
The Remember, Anahid Sofian

00:08:03
ACT II: PAGAN TIMES
Guest Choreographer: Gagik Karapetian
The Maiden: Zobeida Ghattas
The Matron: Stephanie Vartanian
The Matriarch: Carolin Melkonian

00:13:17
ACT III: SAYAT NOVA
Excerpts from The Color of Pomegranates,
A film by Sergei Paradjanov
Guest Choreographer: Gagik Karapetian
Dancers: Harout Barsoumian, Olsi Gjeci, Zobeida Ghattas,
Nadia Maria Michaels, Janet Poriadjian,
Harout Takvorian, Stephanie Vartanian

00:25:59
ACT IV: THE LEGEND OF AKHTAMAR
Poem by Hovhannes Toumanyan
Recited by Saro Jahani
Dancers: Carlos Fittante, Sira Melikian

00:32:33
ACT V: FABLE OF THE BLACK DOG
Excerpt from Peter Balakian's autobiography, Fable of the Black Dog
Narrative: Grandmother - Rosine Tanashian
Peter - Avery Pearson
Fate - Sira Melikian
The Rich Woman - Jean Musacchio
The Poor Woman - Nadia Maria Michaels

00:39:01
ACT VI: FROM A VILLAGE OF MUSH
From a village of Mush two brides swimming in the river,
when they emerge are shivering and shining like pomegranate seeds.
From a village of Mush two rivers pass through;
one is Mourat and the other Meghraget,
and they both flow to the river of Yeprat (Euphrates)
Dancers: Sira Melikian, Anahid Sofian

00:45:36
ACT VII: RECEIVING THE LIGHT
Excerpt from the Divine Uturgy sung by Harout Takvorian
"Bringing in the Chalice"
Dancers: Harout Barsoumian, Olsi Gjeci,
Carlos Fittante, Harout Takvorian

00:53:00
ACT VIII: MEDZ YEGHERN (THE GREAT CRIME)
"The Doors of Thy Mercy Open Unto Us"
Scene 1: The Crime Begins
"Still Life with Skull," by Arshile Gorky
Narration by Sara Jahani

00:54:22
Scene 2: Adana
"Studies for the Artist and His Mother" and "Self Portrait" by Arshile Gorky
"The Dance" poem by Siamanto
Recited by Rosine Tanashian

01:00:18
Communion
Dancers: Zobeida Ghattas, Erin Jennings, Sira Melikian,
Carolin Melkonian, Nadia Maria Michaels, Jean Musacchio,
Janet Poriadjian, Stephanie Vartanian

01:06:10
Scene 3: To Deir el-Zohr
Narration by Sara Jahani
Poem "Night of Vigil" by Vahram Sofian
Recited by Vaghenag Tarpinian
Dancers: The Cast

01:09:32
Scene 4: Sartarabad
Narration by Saro Jahani

01:10:01
In Memoriam
Dancers: Zobeida Ghattas, Carolin Melkonian, Stephanie Vartanian

01:15:14
ACT IX: THE PRESENT TIME
Excerpt from Peter Balakian's poem, "The Oriental Rug"
Dancer: Anahid Sofian

01:17:56
ENCORE
Guest Choreographer: Gagik Karapetian
Dancers: The Cast

MUSIC CREDITS:
ACT I: "Sareri Hovin Mernem" Savina Yannato
(from Songs ofAn Other, ECM Records)
ACT II: "Hov Arex Sarer Jan" Arax Ensemble
(from La Brise, Biem Sabam)
ACT III: Sound track for The Color of Pomegranates film clips: "Kani vor jan im" and "Ashkharumes akh chim kashil", composed by Sayat Nova, performed by Hakob Khalatian
(from The Music of Armenia, Vol. 5., Celestial Harmonies)
ACT IV: Duduk excerpts, source unknown
ACT V: Excerpts from John Vartan's Especially Armenian
ACT VI: "Hovivi kanch" performed by Hakob Khalatian
and "Msho geghen" sung by Hasmik Harutyunyan (from The Music ofArmenia, Vol. 5, Celestial Harmonies)
ACT VII: "Yeghitzi Looys" by Sarkis Petrosyan (from Armenian Santoor, Garni)
Excerpt from the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church
sung by Harout Takvorian
ACT VIII: Scene 2: 'Taroni Oror" sung by Hasmik Harutyunyan
(from Armenian Lullabies, Traditional Crossroads) Scene 4: 'Hov Kisher" sung by Flora Mardirosian with Levon Madoian on duduk (album source unknown)

Production Staff:
Lighting Design: Kia Rogers
Costumes: Meganne George
Video Design: Jeremy Haik
Scenic Design: Joseph Spirito
Video Associate: Hannah Jayanti
Consultant: Joyce Tamesian-Shenloogian
Production & Stage Mgr: Todd McCraw (Sounds Like Art, Inc.)
Graphics: Gamila EI Masri
Publicity: Audrey Ross
Costume Mistress: Jillan Tully