SAROYAN EVENTS PACK THE WEEK
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
Fresno Bee
March 25 2008
CA
The fete of all things William Saroyan continues this week with
readings, art and a bicycle ride.
The events are part of the yearlong centennial celebration of the
renowned writer’s birth in Fresno in 1908. He died in 1981. Saroyan’s
award-winning work encompasses stories, books, plays and films,
including "The Human Comedy" and "My Name is Aram."
The lineup for the coming week follows. Some events have a price for
admission, or a donation might be sought at the door.
Thursday, a one-man show and an art exhibit will be the focus at the
Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N. First St. The one-man show from actor
and producer David Fox-Brenton is called "My Name is Saroyan —
A Question of Will." Longtime central San Joaquin Valley residents
may remember Fox-Brenton as the founder of the now-defunct California
Shakespearean Festival in Visalia.
The art exhibit is Carol Tikijian’s visual ode to the writer, "Why
Abstract? A Tribute for William Saroyan," which is one of the museum’s
spring exhibitions. A wine and preview of the exhibit starts at 6:30
p.m., followed by the one-man show at 7:30 p.m. An after-theater
dinner with the artists begins at 8:45 p.m.
Reservations are $50. For details, call (559) 243-5880.
On Monday, a theatrical reading will be staged at 8 p.m. at Good
Company Players’ 2nd Space Theatre, 928 E. Olive Ave. New York actress
Jacqueline Antaramian — a graduate of California State University,
Fresno — is organizing the event. Excerpts will be read from Saroyan’s
"Sons Come and Go, But Mothers Hang in Forever."
Today at 7 p.m., actors from the Woodward Shakespeare Festival will
present a free readers theater production of Saroyan’s work at Fig
Garden Regional Library, 3071 W. Bullard Ave.
The group also will perform the free production at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
at the Armenian Home of California, 6720 E. Kings Canyon Road.
On Saturday, a Saroyan Bicycle Ride in northeast Fresno will take
participants along the Eaton Trail from Riverview Ranch to Woodward
Park and back. Lunch and readings from Saroyan’s works will be part
of the activity, which starts at 11 a.m. John Kallenberg, chairman
of the William Saroyan Society, will lead.
Registration for the bicycle ride is through the Parties for the
Parkway, at (559) 248-8480.
For more information, call (559) 243-5880, or go to saroyan
centennial.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress