May 7, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 16 at Alwan for the Arts (Located downtown at 16 Beaver Street) Reception at 7:30pm, Showtime at 8:00pm
This audience-immersive theater experience starring Kamee Abrahamian and D. Lee Williams Boudakian was inspired by Armen Ohanian, an enigmatic performer and poet who survived early 20th century anti-Armenian pogroms in Baku. Integrating traditional Armenian dance, erotic performance, and spoken word, Dear Armen follows young Garineh, who has been delving into the life and art of Ohanian in search of a role model and mentor. Garineh begins unraveling questions about her own gender, sexuality, ethnicity, family, and the role of the artist in modern life.
Ohanian’s story serves as a means to uncover and explore the powerful and complex “femininity” of modern Armenian women. Ohanian was not only a performer, but also a producer, choreographer, and director—thus claiming roles that have been traditionally assigned to men. Through experimental, interdisciplinary performance, Saboteur Productions reincarnates Ohanian’s life and spirit – demonstrating her ability to transform herself and the audience’s perception of theatre and the erotic. The play’s narrative bridges a century of women and artists determined to live life on their own terms. The play was written by D.Lee Williams Boudakian and is directed by Abrahamian and Boudakian..
Saboteur Productions was founded in 2013 by long-time collaborators Kamee Abrahamian and Tiffany Golarz. This audience-interactive, site-specific theater company blends dance, circus, physical theater and spoken word. Beginning with The Blood Ballet in 2010, the two producers spearheaded the growth of Montreal’s cabaret scene and has toured around the globe, including Tokyo, Berlin, and Tel Aviv—and also mounted the production of Panama City’s inaugural burlesque show.
Independent producers Christopher Atamian (AGLA NY Member) and Kathleen Minogue Keagy are co-producing this New York premiere.
Visit DearArmen.com for details.
Tickets are available at: http://deararmennyc.bpt.me/
Inspired by the recent stories from Turkey of hidden Armenians in family trees, the readers for Gartal: The Part of You That Is Me will be sharing stories, poems and nonfiction on hidden and shared histories – from various cultures and identities, queer and otherwise.
Since 2002, Gartal (“to read” in Armenian) has been an independent forum for both established and emerging writers of Armenian descent and/or multicultural writers dealing with related themes to read their poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and dramatic texts to the public. For more information, email nancyagabian@gmail.com.
Gartal presents:
The Part of You That is Me:
A Reading of Queer, Crossed and Hidden Histories from Multiple Diasporas
Featuring readings by Danielle Abrams, Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhrán, Lola Koundakjian, & Alan Semerdjian
Sunday, May 11, 2014 6 – 7:30 pm
Bowery Arts + Science
308 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
Subways: F to 2nd Ave; B,D,F,M to Broadway-Lafayette; 6 to Bleecker Street; N, R to Prince St.
http://www.boweryartsandscience.org/events/223-gartal-the-part-of-you-that-is-me
$10 admission
Hosted by Nancy Agabian
Sponsored by the Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of New York
For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/262316063935285/
We want to thank Nancy Agabian for her wonderful reading last month. Featuring her new book Me as her again, the event at the LGBT Center attracted 30 people.
For more information about her work please check out Hrag Vartanian’s blog for an interview with Nancy Agabian where they discuss writing & identity.
Here‘s an excerpt from her book and feel free to purchase a copy via Amazon.
Join us for a Book Party to celbrate the release of Nancy Agabian’s new book “Me as her again”Room 410
208 W. 13th Street, NYC 10011
between 7th and 8th Aves
Subways: 123 or ACE to 14th Street
212 620-7310
http://www.gaycenter.org
$5 donation suggested
Nancy Agabian celebrates the publication of her memoir, Me as her again: True Stories of an Armenian Daughter (Aunt Lute Books), with a reading, discussion and book signing.
The Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of NY will be sponsoring the event with a reception to follow.
The book tells the overlapping stories of Agabian’s genocide survivor grandmother, her feminist mother who came of age in conservative 1950s America, and the author, who struggled to find a unique place between her Armenian family history and her queer identity.
Read more and pre-order the book at:
Aunt Lute Books is an independent, multicultural and queer friendly women’s press.
Describing his last collection, Diran writes: “I fantasized about a world of elegance as a way of life. I wanted to create a collection that was an ode to that sensibility yet feels fresh to a new generation”. Loris presented a collection of structured designs that reflected the spirit of the great ladies of New York’s “Carriage trade”. A long ago world where opulence was at a premium and sophistication was its own gift..
Utilizing only luxurious fabrics such as Duchess Satin, Silk Wool, fantasy Tweeds and vintage chiffon prints, Loris incorporates demi-couture hand work into the designs to create something unique.
This last year, Loris also designed a hit Tshirt with a male portrait overlaid with Armenian lettering! The Tshirt was featured in the June issue of Playboy Magazine pictured above).
For more on Loris Diran Couture visit: http://www.lorisdiran.com/
Also be sure to check out Loris Diran’s Fall/Winter Fashion Show from Fashion Week 2007 on YouTube:
AGLA NY Member Nancy Agabian will be hosting a special Gartal Event this Saturday February 17th at Cornelia Street Cafe. The event will feature a reading of the new book (An)daratsutian Mej or In the (Un)space in English, French and Armenian with authors Nancy Agabian, Lara Aharonian, & Shushan Avagyan
Sunday, February 17th, 6 to 8pm
at the Cornelia Street Cafe
29 Cornelia Street
between W 4th and Bleecker
W of 6th Ave in Greenwich Village
Subway: ACEBDFV to W 4th St
212 989-9319 for reservations and info
$7 cover includes a drink
http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/
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