PRESS CONTACT: CYNTHIA FLEMING. 801 363 7522. CYNTHIA@SALTLAKEACTINGCOMPANY.ORG
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Salt Lake Acting Company presents a free panel discussion and a new art exhibition in conjunction with the world premiere of ‘The Persian Quarter.’
On Sunday, February 13 at 5:00 PM, the Salt Lake Acting Company will present a panel discussion sponsored by the Utah Humanities Council titled, “US/Iran*Patriots/Poets*Pilau Rice/Apple Pie: Exploring our Relationship with Iran.”
The discussion will take up some of the wide-ranging questions raised in THE PERSIAN QUARTER. How have US/Iranian relationships changed and evolved since the 1970s, and how has Iran changed socially? How does the news we receive about Iran and our political relationship influence our perspective on its culture, and are those perceptions accurate? How is the current American generation’s perception of its culture, and history, changed since the 1970s? What does it feel like to be a foreigner, and how does that experience affect one’s perspective and sense of identity? How do we recognize and define freedom? How does poetry, and Rumi specifically, influence daily life in Iran? And is Rumi, as the connecting thread in this play and one of the most popular poets in America, a possible guide for Americans in their efforts to understand and connect to Iran?
Tim Chambless, Assistant Professor/Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Utah, will moderate this discussion featuring four panelists connected by their significant experience with aspects of the play.
The panelists are:
Bahman Baktiari, Professor of Languages & Literature and Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Utah;
Kathleen Cahill, playwright and author of THE PERSIAN QUARTER;
Jim Dabakis, who founded the Utah Pride Center and Equality Utah and who teaches and conducts business in Iran, Russia, and Eastern Europe;
Rasoul Sorkhabi, Research Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah and founder and coordinator of the Rumi Poetry Club.
See expanded bios here: http://saltlakeactingcompany.com/this-season/persian-quarter/221-panel-discussion-usiranpatriotspoetspilau-riceapple-pie
The Salt Lake Acting Company is also pleased to present the next in its series of visual art exhibitions, Women Seeing Women, in its Green Room Gallery February 1 through March 4, 2011. The exhibition, which runs in conjunction with the world premiere production of Kathleen Cahill’s new play THE PERSIAN QUARTER, transforms SLAC’s Green Room (a longtime pre- and post-show party room for audience members) into a gallery space, showcasing the work of established and emerging local artists.
The goal of the Green Room Gallery is to connect with local visual artists and to offer a diverse series of exhibitions throughout the season, taking inspiration from themes raised in productions onstage. Women Seeing Women features images of women by fourteen women artists. Its theme stems from THE PERSIAN QUARTER’s female protagonists and the issues they wrestle with, from cross-cultural barriers and similarities to generational divides, patriotism and allegiances, the experience of freedom, changing perspectives, and what they know of their own personal and national histories.
Several of the artists participating in Women Seeing Women will be known to those familiar with the Salt Lake and Park City gallery scenes. Ruby Chacón explores her identity as a Utah Chicana and her Mexican heritage as well as her fascination with the human form and experience. Cat Palmer’s photographs here stem from a recent project depicting 14 women who shaved their heads, and examines women’s circumstances and options. Heather Barron’s iconic, angelic female figures reflect her love of painting, the beauty in her “everywoman” imagery, and her fascination with the textural qualities of the medium.
Participating artists include:
Heather Barron
Leia Bell
Deborah Hake Brinckerhoff
Ruby Chacón
Teresa Flowers
Janell James
Patty Kimball
Michelle Macfarlane
Cat Palmer
Kathleen Peterson
Una Pett
Hadley Rampton
Margaret Tarampi
The majority of the work in Women Seeing Women is for sale, and proceeds go directly to artists.
SLAC will host a reception for artists in the Green Room during intermission at the Wednesday 16 February performance of THE PERSIAN QUARTER. Interested viewers may also see the work when they attend a performance; visit SLAC during regular business hours (M-F 9am-6pm); or contact Una Pett to arrange a visit (una@saltlakeactingcompany.org). Tickets to THE PERSIAN QUARTER may be purchased at the theatre or by calling the box office at 801.363.7522.
Organized by Gallery Coordinators Una Pett and Tamrika Khvtisiashvili, Women Seeing Women will be up starting 1 February 2011 and remain during the full run of THE PERSIAN QUARTER until 4 March 2011. Throughout the production season SLAC will continue to present its series of exhibitions in the Green room Gallery, bringing new work to coincide with each production.
NOW PLAYING:
THE PERSIAN QUARTER by Kathleen Cahill, with Nell Gwynn, Deena Marie Manzanares, Shane Mozaffari, Josh Thoemke
DATES Opened: February 2, 2011
Closing: February 27, 2011
TIMES Regular: Wed – Sat - 7:30 p.m.
Sun- 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Tickets range from $15-$41 depending on performance. Student, Under 30, Senior and Group discounts available – call 801-363-7522
Salt Lake Acting Company
168 W. 500 N. SLC, UT
801.363.7522
www.saltlakeactingcompany.org
SLAC was founded in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.
________________________________________________
Cynthia Fleming
Executive Producer
Salt Lake Acting Company
801.363.7522
www.saltlakeactingcompany.org
www.nowplayingutah.com
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