Global initiative brings Ukrainian writers’ work to Lehigh Valley stage
Never underestimate the ability of the arts to bring people together.
A global initiative to share the work of Ukrainian writers will come to the Lehigh Valley, as Bethlehem’s Touchstone Theatre presents “World-Wide Ukrainian Play Readings” at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at Moravian University.
The evening — which will feature theater, film and dance — is a collaboration of some of the major names in Valley arts, including Randall Forte, the former executive director of the Lehigh Valley Arts Council. Along with Forte, Bethlehem’s Touchstone Theatre is partnering on the project, with three of its company members — Bill George, Emma Ackerman and Christopher Shorr involved.
The World-Wide Ukrainian
Readings initiative was created by American journalist, translator, and theatre critic John Freedman now living in Greece. Partners include Maksym Kurochkin at Kyiv’s Theater of Playwrights, Noah Birksted-Breen at London’s Sputnik Theatre, and Philip Arnoult at Baltimore’s Center for International Theater Development.
What will be presented are works by Ukrainian writers, many written in the last few weeks from the frontline of the invasion by Russia. Those works have been shared through a global network of artists and cultural organizations, including of course here in the Lehigh Valley.
“This is advocacy on a global scale,” Forte said. “I have been staying for years that the arts bring people together. Advocacy is a difficult thing to get your mind around. This gives us a concrete opportunity to practice advocacy.”
The program will feature:
Forte will direct “A Dictionary of Emotions in War Time,” a staged reading of work by Yelena Astasyeva (Totem Center Theater Lab). “
“Peace and Tranquility” will be presented as a film created by Shorr, who is also head of Moravian University’s theatre program and co-director of Moravian’s InFocus Center for War, Peacebuilding the Just Society.
A performance by KAZKA Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, directed by Paula Holoviak of the Ukrainian Homestead in Lehighton.
Also part of the program: Clarice James, director of Allentown-based MIRA Resources, will be accompanied by a Ukraine refugee who will provide a firsthand perspective on the conflict.
In lieu of tickets, those who attend will be encouraged to make contributions to the Voices of Children Foundation, a Ukrainian charity dedicated to providing emergency psychological assistance and emergency evacuation services to provide safe shelter and creative activities to rescue children from the trauma of war. Donate to Voices of Children: https://voices.org. ua/en/donat/
After the program, attendees are invited to stay for conversation and refreshments.
THE DETAILS
What: “World-Wide Ukrainian Play Readings”
Where, when: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at the Prosser Auditorium in the Haupert Union Building, Moravian University
Info: citd.us/worldwide-ukrainianplay-readings