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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, February 25, 2010
30th Anniversary of the Founding of Ardavazt Theater Company Celebrated
in Grand Fashion
The celebration of the 30th anniversary of AGBU Ardavazt Theater
Company, under the sponsorship of AGBU Southern California District
Committee and the patronage of Mr. and Mrs. Albert and Tove Boyajian,
took place on Sunday, October 25, 2009, in the auditorium of the AGBU
Pasadena Center in Pasadena, California.
Besides giving an account of the theatrical group’s activity over the
past three decades, the purpose of this celebration was to show
appreciation to all the directors, actors, behind-the-scenes workers and
administrators, who had worked hand in hand, and at the cost of great
sacrifices, to not just maintain the group’s existence but, more
importantly, to foster its continual progress.
Ara Babayan, chairman of the executive committee of Ardavazt Theater
Company, delivered the opening remarks, during which he welcomed the
300-some attendees. He was highly appreciative of Haig Messerlian,
Parsegh Kartalian and Krikor Satamian for having founded Ardavazt in
1979, dwelling in particular on the latter’s many years of service as
the group’s artistic director. He expressed warm thanks to the event’s
patron, Albert Boyajian, for his moral and financial support to the
youth, athletic and cultural activities of AGBU from his days as member
of the Armenian Youth Association right down to the present.
Babayan pointed out that, to date, Ardavazt Theater Company has
performed 55 plays, including three operettas by Dikran Tchouhadjian in
conjunction with Lark Musical Society, not only in Los Angeles but also
on the East Coast of the United States and in Canada. He also noted that
young talented actors and actresses have joined Ardavazt, thus allowing
for a successful generational change and making the drama group the
pride of the community. Finally, he thanked the Central Board of
Directors of AGBU, the Southern California District Committee, all the
actors and actresses, the technical support personnel, the Armenian
press and the audience.
Babayan then invited Maral Kojayian and Ari Libaridian, graduates of the
AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School and two of the company’s young members,
to take over as emcees. After speaking about the invaluable contribution
of the Ardavazt Theater Company to the community and the important role
played by its artistic director, Krikor Satamian, they invited Satamian
to the podium.
In his address, Krikor Satamian presented an evaluation of the
theatrical group’s activity over the past thirty years. The following
quote from his remarks best presents his feelings of gratitude: "When
Haig Messerlian, Parsegh Kartalian and I founded AGBU Ardavazt Theater
Company in 1979, we had faith and hope that the newly formed drama group
would survive for at least a few years but it never crossed my mind that
30 years later, we would be gathered in this beautiful hall to celebrate
its 30th anniversary. We owe this great success to the uncompromising
dedication, painstaking work and indestructible faith of the 55
administrative staff members, 174 technical staff members, and 202
actors and actresses, who have gone through the ranks of the theater
company. Today it is not possible to mention the names of all those
devoted individuals. They will be included in a memorial book that will
be published in the beginning of next year on the occasion of the 30th
anniversary."
Satamian then presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Haroutioun
Toumayan and posthumously to Loulou Fermanian, which was received by her
husband Ara Fermanian. A slide show documenting the AGBU Vahram Papazian
Theater Group of Beirut, Lebanon and the Ardavazt Theater Company of Los
Angeles also took place on this occasion.
Certificates of special appreciation were given by Krikor Satamian to
Kevork Keoshgerian, Alex Khorchidian, and Roupen Harmandayan.
The most striking part of the program was the screening of video clips
depicting the prolific activity of Ardavazt Theater Company over the
past thirty years. Prepared by Arpi Samuelian, the presentation included
images of Mher Mekertchian, Berge Fazlian, Tamar Hovannissian, Gerard
(Jirair) Papazian, Krikor Satamian and other professional directors and
actors who invoked fond memories in the audience.
The main speaker of the evening was Sarkis Minassian, vice chairman of
the executive committee of AGBU Ardavazt Theater Company during its
initial years. He rightly pointed out that the theatrical movement
within the realm of our organization is 50 years old today. He expressed
appreciation to AGBU, Gerald Papazian, who directed seven productions
between 1981 and 1984 before leaving for Paris, and artistic director
Krikor Satamian, who has produced and directed 35 plays, to date.
Minassian also mentioned the names of others who, besides Papazian and
Satamian, had directed Ardavazt, starting with the first, Bedo
Manoogian, followed by Loutfi Tabakian, Mher Mekertchian, Haigaz
Stepanian, Sako Dadoyian, Peter Manoogian, Anita Khanzatian, James
Martin, and Armen Kerasimian.
Words of heartfelt appreciation were spoken by Berj Shahbazian, Chairman
of AGBU Southern California District Committee, who commended the group
on its past accomplishments and wished it success in its future
activities.
Certificates of appreciation for being founding members of AGBU Ardavazt
Theater Company were given by executive committee member John Samuelian
to Bedo Ben Manoogian, Loutfi Tabakian, Ani Yaghjian, Setta Mardirosian,
Nono Vartabedian, Maro Hagopian, Nayiri Partamian, Ani Donigian, and,
posthumously, to Sako Sadoyan.
A special certificate of appreciation was presented to Krikor Satamian
by Ara Babayan on behalf of Ardavazt’s executive committee.
Albert Boyajian was called upon to honor those individuals who have
given noteworthy service to Ardavazt. He, in turn, asked Samuel
Ilanjian, Vahe Imasdounian and Haroutioun Toumayan to join him in
presenting the awards.
Silva Nazaretian presented certificates of appreciation for having taken
part in more than ten productions to the following individuals: Lena
Karageuzian, Armen Kerasimian, Varoujan Varjabedian, Sossi Varjabedian,
Vartouhi Kojayan, Maro Ajemian, and Hrach Ajemian.
The following individuals, who had furnished technical assistance in
more than ten productions, also received certificates of appreciation
from Asdghig Khanjian: Atam Aivazian, Ara Fermanian, Jack Khorchidian,
Madlen Satamian, and Raffi Boyajian.
Ani Imasdounian presented special certificates of appreciation to past
and present executive committee chairmen: Vahram Ishlemejian, Atam
Aivazian, Alec Ekmekjian, Vahe Imasdounian, Samuel Ilanjian, and Ara
Babayan.
Krikor Simonian expressed appreciation to Ardavazt’s artistic directors,
Gerald Papazian and Krikor Satamian. He also mentioned guest actors Mher
Mekertchian, Berge Fazlian, Sirvart Fazlian, Kevork Soghomonian, Zaven
Kalousdian, Buck Kartalian, Magda Harout, and Vahe Berberian.
Vartouhi Kazanjian, executive committee member of Ardavazt, read a
letter of congratulations from Gerald Papazian.
Following the presentation of all the certificates, Kazanjian invited
everyone to stand and observe a minute of silence in memory of the drama
group’s deceased members: Ani Ajemian, Vazken Yaghjian, Harout
Kaprielian, Loulou Fermanian, Mireille Kalfayan, and Sako Dadoyan.
The piano playing of talented Arpi Samuelian, one of the newest members
of Ardavazt Theater Company, constituted the artistic portion of the
program. She gave an impressive rendition of Aram Khachaturian’s
"Toccata," one of his more difficult compositions.
At the conclusion of the program, the attendees were invited to Boyajian
Hall to participate in the reception and to congratulate the actors and
administrative personnel having received certificates of appreciation.
This report, in the main, is based on "H.P.E.Mioutian Ardavazt
Taderakhumpi himnatrutian 30-amyagi donagadarutiun; Taderagan Angiun"
(Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of AGBU Ardavazt
Theater Company; Theatrical Corner) by Kevork Keoshgerian (Nor Gyank and
Nor Or, November 5, 2009) and "Ardavazt Taderakhumpi 30-amyagi
Donagadarutiune" (The Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Ardavazt
Theater Company) by Sarkis Majarian (New Armenia daily, October 30,
2009), with additional information culled from "HPEMi Ardavazt
Taderakhumpi 30amyagi Donagadarutiun" (Celebration of the 30th
Anniversary of AGBU Ardavazt Theater Company) by Kevork Bedigian
(Asbarez daily, October 31, 2009), "Ardavazt Taderakhumpe Arzhetsuts Ir
Himnatrutian 30 Amyage" (The Ardavazt Theater Company Is Worthy of the
30th Anniversary of Its Founding) by Dr. A. Kazanjian (Massis, November
7, 2009) and "H.P.E. Miutian Ardavazt Taderakhumpe Gu Sharunage
Yerghazaramya Hai Tadronin Yerte Californio Mech" (AGBU Ardavazt Theater
Company Continues Procession of Two-Thousand-Year-Old Armenian Theater
in California) by Toros Toranian (Nor Gyank, November 12, 2009).
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress