A BALKAN  SAMPLER:

FIVE CONTEMPORARY DRAMATISTS

Scenes from plays by some of the most important modern playwrights from Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia will be performed in staged readings at the Department of Performing Arts at American University. The vision of these writers is forged in the crucible and the memory of conflict, yet they reveal an astonishing consistency in terms of the innovative theatre culture that is shared by Balkan countries.  They also demonstrate how united these artists are in their desire to confront us, to challenge us, to find new models of co-existence. Post-show audience engagement will involve thought- provoking dialog with experts on the Balkan area—and a sampler of Balkan cuisine.

The featured plays and playwrights include:

Albania, Stefan Capaliku – Allegretto Albania

Directed by Joe Martin

First prize at "New Plays from Europe," Wiesbaden Theatre Biennial, German 2010.

Bulgaria, Hristo Boytchev – Colonel Bird

Directed by Peter Karapetkov

Harold Pinter Prize, British Council.

Macedonia, Goran Stefanovski - Hotel Europa

Directed by Hanna Bondarewska

Sterijino Pozorje Prize for Lifetime Achievement, Novi Sad; Grand Prix, International Literature Festival, Vilenica.

Serbia, Biljana Srbljanovic - Family Stories. 

Directed by Gail Humphries-Mardirosian

Ernst Toller Prize, Germany; New Theatrical Realities Award, European Commission.

Romania, Saviana Stanescu - Waxing West

Directed by Marietta Hedges

New York Innovative Theatre Award. Marulic Prize for Best European Radio-Drama. 

At the Katzen Arts Center’s “Studio Theatre.”

4400 Massachusetts Avenue, at Ward Circle

Saturday November 5, at 2pm and 8pm.

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Followed by a panel discussion

Co-sponsored by the Department of Performing Arts and the Center for Global Peace (SIS) at American University.

In collaboration with the embassies of Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, and Ambassador Theater