Egypt, Canada, Ukraine Among Countries Featured in International Voices Project

Argentina, Egypt, France, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland are represented in the third annual International Voices Project (IVP) running from May 8^th to July 17^th in Chicago.  The International Voices Project is the largest event of its kind in the country and introduces Chicago audiences to some of the most exciting voices on the international scene. 

Presented in collaboration with the represented country's consulates general and cultural institutions, the International Voices Project will celebrate the voices of international playwrights with eight premiere concert-style readings of selected plays that will be performed by a professional cast with stage directions read to allow audiences imaginations to create the world of the play. After each reading, there will be a post-performance discussion with the cast and audience, followed by a reception hosted by the consulates.

"A nation's storytellers – its authors and playwrights – keep its stories. They keep the stories so that a country can know itself. Storytellers tell stories so that we know our past, recognize our present and help us create a vision of our future selves. The International Voices Project recognizes the extraordinary voices that bring stories to the stage. We also celebrate the unique and meaningful ways in which we can gather together to hear these voices within a global urban center like Chicago," said IVP artistic director, Patrizia Acerra.

IVP 2012 is a collaboration among Instituto Cervantes, Consulate General of Argentina in Chicago, Consulate General of Egypt, Egyptian American Society, Alliance Française de Chicago, Cultural Service at the Consulate General of France in Chicago, Trap Door Theatre, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago, Swedish American Museum, Consulate General of Sweden Chicago, Vitalist Theatre Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, German Consulate General in Chicago, Goethe-Institut Chicago, Consulate General of Switzerland, the Swiss Benevolent Society, the Side Project, and the Columbia College Department of Theatre.

Antje Oegel and Neil Blackadder serve as IVP 2012 Literary Consultants and Lara Wagner as IVP 2012 Resident Dramaturg.  The 2012 IVP Advisory Committee includes Colleen Duke – Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago Dr. John Green - Columbia College Chicago, Aimée Laberge - Alliance Française de Chicago, and Claire Geall Sutton. Directors include Jonathan Green, Anna Bahow, John Green, Emilio Williams, Kerstin Brookmann, Liz Carlin Metz, James McDermott and Nicole Weisner. Staff includes Maggie Carlin, IVP Administrative Coordinator, Katherine Glavin, IVP Artistic Associate, and Kortney Kwong Hing, IVP Production Assistant.

Schedule

The first play in the series takes place on Tuesday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m. From Argentina, the US premiere of Third Wing by Claudio Tolcachir, in a translation by Jean Graham-Jones. Third Wing is presented in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago and will be directed by Emilio Williams.  Instituto Cervantes hosts this event and is located at 31 W. Ohio.

On Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m., the Consulate General of Egypt in collaboration with the Egyptian American Society hosts the reading of Comedy of Sorrows by Ibrahim El-Husseini, translated by Mohammed Albakry and Rebekah Maggor. This event will be held at 360 East Randolph Street.

On Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m., The play Candle by French playwright Fabrice Melquiot and translated by Miriam Heard will be presented in collaboration with the Cultural Service at the Consulate General of France in Chicago, the Alliance Francaise de Chicago and Trap Door Theatre The Candle  is directed by Nicole Weisner, and will be performed at Alliance Française de Chicago, located at 54 W. Chicago Avenue.

Friday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. the play Pagans, written by Ukrainian playwright in a translation by Rory Mullarkey, will be performed at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art located at 2320 W. Chicago Avenue. The Pagans will be directed by Adam Webster of Side Project and enjoys the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago.

Tuesday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. Canada is represented by the play American Shot written by Evelyne de la Chenelière and Daniel Brière, with a translation by Neil Blackadder, and directed by Elizabeth Carlin Metz, both of Knox College. The reading will be presented in collaboration with Vitalist Theatre  and the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago. The American Shot will be performed at Alliance Française de Chicago located at 54 W. Chicago Avenue.

On Tuesday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m., Goethe-Institut Chicago hosts the reading of Martyr by Marius von Mayenburg, in a translation by Maja Zade. The reading is directed by Kerstin Brookmann and enjoys the support of the German Consulate General Chicago. Goethe-Institut Chicago is located at 150 N. Michigan, Avenue, Suite 1500.

Tuesday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m. Sweden is represented by the play Invasion by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, in a translation by Frank Perry. It will be directed by Anna C. Bahow, and held at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark Street. This reading enjoys the support of the Consulate General of Sweden Chicago.

The final event of the season takes place Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m.  Switzerland is represented with the play The Test by Lukas Barfuss, in a translation by Neil Blackadder and directed by John Green of Columbia College Chicago. This is a collaboration among the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago, the Swiss Benevolent Society of Chicago and the Department of Theatre at Columbia College Chicago at the Goethe-Institut Chicago. The Goethe-Institut Chicago is located at 150 N. Michigan, Avenue, Suite 1500.

Each event is free and open to the public. Reservations can be made on the IVP website: www.ivpchicago.org.  Free seating will be available at the door on a first come, first served basis; reservations are recommended. For further information, call 773-250-7055 or visit www.ivpchicago.org

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