The Ilkhom Theatre has presented its productions in more than 30 international festivals in 21 countries all around the world!
Our productions are visually stimulating; their themes are universal!
Our productions are understandable for people of all languages and cultures!
We would like to invite You to discover the Ilkhom Theatre.

THE ILKHOM THEATRE SPRING 2008 GUEST TOUR IN the USA

We are writing you to let you know that ACT – A Contemporary Theatre – has officially announced that the Ilkhom Theatre company from Tashkent, Uzbekistan will be coming to Seattle next spring to open ACT’s Mainstage season. Ilkhom will be performing two plays from their repertory from March 14 – April 13, 2008.

The plays, White, White Black Stork and Ecstacy with the Pomegranate, explore themes of nationality, identity, religion, Russian turmoil, Central Asian History, homoeroticism, reality/fantasy, and love.

The University of Washington is working closely with ACT on this project as it presents a tremendous opportunity to create deep discussions in our community about Islamic culture, sexuality, and the new and fresh art of this artistically superb company. The University of Washington has strong ties to Ilkhom, so their
visit will not only be a boon to UW’s Professional Actors Training Program, but also to its Central Asian Studies – which includes Uzbek language training – and Comparative Religion Programs. In fact, we believe UW, ACT and Ilkhom can provide the entire community with wonderful opportunities to experience the commonalities and differences of two cultures that seem to be clashing in so many aspects of our lives.

ACT Artistic Director Kurt Beattie, and many of our partners, believe in the artistic value of these plays and this company, but are aware of the potential controversial nature of the subject of the plays. Both plays deal with Muslim culture, Central Asian history and both deal with homosexuality in some form as part, but by no means
all, of the plays’ themes.

We are inviting potentially interested scholars, community representatives, religious leaders, potential supporters -stakeholders - to a gathering at ACT in downtown Seattle to begin a dialogue about how best to contextualize and promote these two wonderful productions. Of course, with this ambitious undertaking we are also seeking support in many forms including volunteers, translation services, fundraising assistance, and help in spreading the word in the community about the Ilkhom’s visit. If you’d like to hear more about the Ilkhom, please join us on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:30p.m. for a short presentation followed by dessert and coffee.

Please RSVP to kait.peters@acttheatre.org or 206-292-7660 x1331.

ACT and the UW are especially committed to this partnership with the Ilkhom Theatre, in the wake of Ilkhom Artistic Director Mark Weil’s recent murder in the lobby of his Tashkent apartment building. Mark had many close ties to Seattle, and we are honored and dedicated to sharing his legacy with the world, and to keeping his particular vision of the possibilities of highly creative and engaged theatre alive. We hope that you will join us in this conversation.

Sincerely,
Kurt Beattie, ACT Theatre; Sarah Nash,  UW School of Drama;  Gates Mark Jenkins, UW School of Drama

P.S. Attached you’ll find a list of our partners, supporters, and funders, as well as some opportunities for participation.

The Ilkhom Theatre at ACT - A Contemporary Theatre - March 14 - April 13, 2008

Current partners:
University of Washington School of Drama
University of Washington School of Arts & Sciences Development Office
Seattle/Tashkent Sister City Organization

Current funders:
DanceUSA
One Nation
Young Foundation
Potential partners identified to date:
Allen Family Foundation
World Affairs Council
UW, Near Eastern Languages & Civilization
UW, Russian Eastern European Central Asian Studies City of Seattle: Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Office of Intergovernmental relations.

Goals of these contacts:
- Develop relationships with all potential stakeholders, people who have interest, expertise, involvement with the issues raised and the cultural context of the plays.
- Create opportunity to solicit input from broadest range of community members possible.
- Understand challenges and opportunities presented by this important theatrical event.

Goals of initial community meeting:
- Develop public interactions between the Ilkhom theatre company, ACT, University of Washington and others that will foster understanding and learning.
- Create partnerships that will help support this project, through financial and in-kind contributions and ticket sales.

Potential programs/participation (at ACT, UW, other community locations as deemed best) “How can I be involved?”
- Symposiums, lectures, conversations
- Ticket subsidy for student/community tickets
- Seattle Channel programming
- Pre-show/Post-show discussions with performances
- Group sales
- Fundraising opportunities
- Master classes with Ilkhom artists for students

Play Descriptions:
- The first play, White White Black Stork, is a kind of reverse Romeo and Juliet tragedy that takes place at the end of the 19th century and involves a boy who falls in love with another boy but submits to an arranged marriage leading to tragic results.
- The second, The Ecstasy With the Pomegranate, takes place in 1916-1917 Tashkent and deals with cultural interactions between the Sufi or Uzbek culture and the Russian (and then later) Soviet military stationed in Tashkent. It focuses on the painter, Alexander Nikolaev and his assimilation into the Muslim religion and culture, especially his involvement with male Bocha dancers who portray women. Who do I contact to get involved?

For more information, please contact Nicole Cochran, Artistic Manager at ACT Theatre at ncochran@acttheatre.org or 206-292-7660 x1224.
TO RSVP for the Dec. 4 event, please contact Kait Peters at kait.peters@acttheatre.org or 206-292-7660 x1331.

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