The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois)
October 12, 2004 Tuesday

Drama depicts story of genocide survivors

PANTAGRAPH STAFF

NORMAL — Richard Kallnoski’s drama, “Beast on the Moon,” is the new
offering from the Heartland Theatre Company in Normal, opening with a
“pay-what-you-can” preview at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Regular performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Oct.
22, 23, 29 and 20, with a 2 p.m. matinee Oct. 24.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $6 for students. Call
(309) 452-8709 for reservations.

“Beast on the Moon” depicts the lives of two Armenian genocide
survivors, beginning in 1921 after a portrait photographer meets his
“picture bride” with whom he wants to rebuild or resurrect a small
fraction of his annihilated family and save them from oblivion.

Kallnoski’s 1995 drama has been produced around the world in regional
theaters and is due to open in New York City in March 2005.

The production is directed by Rachel Chaves, Heartland’s Jean
Scharfenberg Award winner, and features Dan Irvin, Katy Lacio and
Greg McGrath.

Also scheduled are two post-performance responses to the play.

The first, on Oct. 23, is a panel discussion featuring Jared Brown,
playwright and retired chair of IWU’s School of Theatre, and Emine
Evered, who has taught courses that concern historical and social
dimensions of the Middle East.

On Oct. 24, a discussion will be led by Mark Wyman, an ISU
distinguished professor emeritus, whose specialty is the immigrant
experience, and Shushan Avagyan, a poet and Armenian citizen doing
graduate work at ISU.

Heartland Theatre is located in the Community Activity Center of One
Normal Plaza, Lincoln and Beech streets, Normal.

GRAPHIC: Greg McGrath, center, studied his face in the mirror he gave
his bride, played by Kathy Lacio, as Dan Irvin looked on in a scene
from “Beast on the Moon” opening Thursday at Heartland Theatre. The
Richard Kallnoski play is being directed by Rachel Chaves.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress