April-June 2005

THEATER

April 6, 2005.
5:00 - 7:00 PM—Khayal al-dhill, Karagiozis, Karagöz.

Shadow Puppet Theater in the Eastern Mediterranean: Egypt, Greece and Turkey
Organized by the Division of Eastern Mediterranean Languages, Georgetown University. At the Copley Formal Lounge, Georgetown University, Washington DC

5:00 - 6:30 PM. Students of Arabic, Greek, and Turkish will perform the short play Khayal al-dhill, Karagiozis, Karagöz (with English translation) in the spirit of the humorous shadow shows of the Eastern Mediterranean. 6:30-7:00PM – A display of shadow puppet show materials and food of the region will be presented after the performances. Free admission.

April 30 — May 29, 2005.
Saturday at 3:30 & 7:00 PM, Sunday at 12:30 & 3:30

"Persephone: Little Greek Myth”—A World Premiere comedy by Kevin Kling Directed by Janet Stanford

At The Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, Md. 20814. Celebrate spring with this witty modern interpretation of the Greek story. Persephone, a daughter of the gods, is expected to be perfect in every way. But she wants to be more like her friends, who have special talents and are not afraid to make mistakes. Persephone journeys to the underworld and, along the way, discovers who she really is and how she can make her own contribution to the world. The extraordinary cast features professional actors with and without disabilities. This production is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and by a Theatre Communications Group/Met Life Foundation Extended Collaboration Grant. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Tickets: $10-$15 Group rates available. For details or to purchase tickets, go to http://www.imaginationstage.org/ or call our box office at 301-280-1660.

May 5 - June 26, 2005.
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm

"Jason and the Argonauts"

Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili
Choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili
Synetic Theater. At the Rosslyn Spectrum
Call 703.824.8060 or visit www.synetic.org for tickets.

When challenged by a weak ruler to find the legendary Golden Fleece, Jason gathers the heroes of Greece and casts off into the most daring quest of the ancient world. Upon reaching his strange destination, Jason becomes intoxicated by the beauty and sorcery of Medea, who falls into a deep and dangerous love with the handsome foreigner. Their love and desire drive them into a tangled web of witchcraft, fiery passion, and bloodstained victory. Synetic Theater, the Helen-Hayes-Award-Winning company, has gained widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its innovative, visceral, and dazzling productions.

May 21 - June 12, 2005

“Hecuba”

A Royal Shakespeare Company production
The Kennedy Center
Eisenhower Theater

Legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave makes her Washington debut in a new production of Euripides' gripping tragedy. One of the RSC's most illustrious alumni, the Tony®, Emmy, Olivier, and Academy Award® winner returns to the company that made her a Shakespearean star to portray the captive Queen of Troy. A powerful exploration of war, courage, and what happens to people when all hope is lost, Hecuba promises a tour-de-force performance from one of theater and film's greatest luminaries. http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=TFTSA

Tickets from $25 at the Box Office or charge by phone (202) 467-4600. TTY (202) 416-8524 | Groups call (202) 416-8400 | Order online at kennedy-center.org. Made possible by the generous support of the Prince of Wales Foundation. Theater at the Kennedy Center is presented with the generous support of Stephen and Christine Schwarzman.

June 1- July 5, 2005.
WED-SAT 8PM, Sun Mats. 3:00 PM

"The Persians"—BY AESCHYLUS
In a modern version of the play by American playwright ROBERT AULETTA. Directed by ROBERT MCNAMARA with KERRY WATERS as Queen Atossa.

"In this modern version of Aeschylus's play, Robert Auletta shifts the action of the play from Persia to a modern-day Iraq, and like Aeschylus, asks Americans to question and challenge their views of our recently defeated enemies."

SCENA Theatre
At the Warehouse Theatre, 1021 Seventh Street, NW, WDC 20001
TICKETS: $25, RES/INF: 703.684.7990, RES/INF: 703.684.7990

BOOKS

April 9, 2005, 2:00 PM
Author Reading and Signing
Who: GEORGE PELECANOS
What: Drama City
When: Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 pm
Where: Barnes & Noble (organizer)
4801 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

George Pelecanos is the author of twelve crime/noir novels set in and around Washington, D.C.: A Firing Offense, Nick's Trip, Shoedog, Down By the River Where the Dead Men Go, The Big Blowdown, King Suckerman, The Sweet Forever, Shame the Devil, Right as Rain, Hell to Pay, Soul Circus, and Hard Revolution. Hell to Pay was the recipient of the 2003 Los Angeles Times Book Award. The Big Blowdown won the International Crime Novel of the Year award in France, Germany, and Japan. His short fiction has appeared in Esquire and the collections Unusual Suspects, Best American Mystery Stories of 1997, Measure of Poison, and Best American Mystery Stories of 2002. He is an award-winning journalist and essayist who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, Uncut, Mojo, and numerous other publications. Esquire magazine called Pelecanos "the poet laureate of the D.C. crime world."

All events are free and open to the public. RE INFO: Tel: 301-986-1761

CULINARY ARTS

April 10, 2005
5:30 PM

“Politiki Kouzina”
Organized by the Embassy of Greece, Cultural Program

Recipes and cooking secrets introduced by Vefa Alexiadou, the chef of the popular Greek TV show: “Vefa’s Secrets” and author of more than 60 cook books.

Greek wines will be offered by the “Sotiris Bafitis Selection”.

Politiki Kouzina is a one-of-a-kind cuisine of 2000 years cosmopolitan Constantinople's Greek culinary history. "Greek cooking was greatly influenced by the East through four centuries of Ottoman rule, but more importantly by waves of returning Greek refugees displaced by the wars, forced exchanges of population and deportations that started in the 1920s. For 2,000 years, Constantinople, (referred as "Poli") was the capital of two large empires and a crossroads of the great trade routes carrying silk and spices . . . this helped create a very special cuisine," says food writer and historian Soula Bozi.

At: ZAYTINYA Restaurant
701 9TH Street, NW.
Washington, DC. 20001
Tel.: 202-638-0800
www.zaytinya.com

FILM/LANGUAGE

April 20, 2005.
6:00-8:30PM

A Linguistic Journey in the Aegean

Organized by the Embassy of Greece, Cultural Program, in collaboration with the Greek Program and the Hellenic Society of Georgetown University, The Tsakopoulos Library and Greece in Print.

In celebration of the Year of the Languages, The Cultural Program of the Embassy of Greece, in collaboration with the Greek Program, the Hellenic Society of Georgetown University, The Tsakopoulos Library and Greece in Print, presents A LINGUISTIC JOURNEY IN THE AEGEAN with a film screening (see above description), a presentation of the book CIRCLE DANCE by Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine and a display of Greek books.

“The Aegean In The Words Of The Poets”

Director: Lucia Rikaki
61 min., 2003, English subtitles

Organized by the Greek Embassy.A documentary film based on the works of writers and poets from around the world who traveled to Greece during recent centuries and were inspired by the Aegean Archipelago. The poems, excerpts and travel notes of acclaimed literary figures are illustrated with lively imagery from most of the Aegean islands that enhances the rich cultural and natural landscape of the Aegean Sea. It is a literary journey narrated in different languages that blends the past with the present through breathtaking sceneries and poetic beauty. Free admission.

At: Georgetown University, Intercultural Center
37th and O Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20057

FILM

“Trilogy: Weeping Meadow”

Director: Theo Angelopoulos

Organized by The D.C. International Film Festival and co-presented with the Embassy of Greece, Cultural Program
At the Landmark E Street Cinema, 555 11th Street, NW. Tickets will go on sale April 1st and advance tickets can be purchased by calling Tickets.com at 703 218-6500.
Web Site: www.filmfestdc.org

TRILOGY: THE WEEPING MEADOW will participate in the Washington, D.C. International Film Festival. In its 19th year, Filmfest DC presents over 100 feature premieres, restored classics, shorts and special events. Washington is our nation's capital - the home of embassies, international institutions and major cultural centers. Our festival has developed into one of the city's major annual events, attracting over 36,000 people and with features in Variety, The Washington Post, The New York Times and on CNN.

LECTURES

April 21, 2005
7:00 p.m.

Madness and the Artistic Genius

Organized by The Society for the Preservation of the Greek Heritage

Professors and Psychiatrists Vassilis Koliatsos & Kay Redfield Jamison both of John Hopkins University will address the relevance and similarities between Hippocrates’ and Aristotle’s “Melancholia and Genius the Thirtieth Problem” with “Exuberance: The Passion For Life” authored by Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison. At: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace1779 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. (just East of Dupon Circle).

SPGH Members $12.00 Guests $15.00 Students Free. Reservations required. RSVP by April 19, 2005. Also,

May 22, 2005
7:00 p.m.

SPGH is organizing a panel discussion consisting of classicists, Washington Theatre directors, and the writer and director of the play “Jason and the Argonauts”. The discussion will follow the performance and will analyze the issues, ideas and principles relevant to our lives today.

For more information: email at classic.heritage@verizon.net or call

SPGH, 5125 MacArthur Bvld., NW, Suite 38
Washington, DC 20016. Tel. 202.363.4337, Fax. 202.363.4658

DANCE

“7X7:Unplugged”. Featuring seven works in a cabaret setting.

The Washington Ballet’s England Studio Theater

Greek choreographer Andonis Foniadakis to premiere new piece.

Following last season’s successful premiere of its cabaret series, The Washington Ballet delivers 7x7: Unplugged, a program presenting the works of seven talented choreographers. 7x7: Unplugged boasts sensational works by the dance world’s most talked about choreographers: Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Val Caniparoli, Mark Dendy, Adam Hougland, Brian Reeder, Susan Shields and Andonis Foniadakis. Andonis Foniadakis, originally from Greece, trained with the National Dance School of Greece and Rudra Bejart Lausanne. He danced with Lyon Opera Ballet for six years under the direction of Yorgos Loukos and the Bejart Ballet Lausanne for two years.

Collectively, this progressive group has created dances for American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Limón Dance Company, Lyon Opera Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

TICKETS: Tickets are $32 and general seating. They are available by calling 202.397. SEAT or by visiting ticketmaster.com. CONTACT: Angela Mers, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, (202) 362-3606 x 120 or amers@washingtonballet.org

LITERATURE

May 9, 2005,
6:00 - 7:00 pm

Washington Writer's Week
Organized by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, www.dcarts.dc.gov

Reading of Greek and Italian Poetry by Dr. Zoe Kosmidou, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of Greece and Martin Stiglio, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Washington, DC

At Teaism in Downtown DC

Washington Writer's Week is a week long celebration of literary work in the District. It includes District writers and venues as part of its programming. FREE ADMISSION.

*Information was provided by the organizers of the events.

Visit our web site: www.greekembassy.org/cultural

To receive information on the Embassy’s Greek Cultural Program and the Calendar of Greek Cultural Events in Washington, please send your contact information to:
info@greekculture.us or call: 202-939-1364.

Dr. Zoe Kosmidou, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of Greece.