RICHARD KALINOSKI WINS ARMENIAN MEDAL FOR HIS PLAY "BEAST ON THE MOON"
by Louis Garcia, of the Advance Titan Issue
Advance Titan, WI
Sept 27 2006
Theater professor Richard Kalinoski’s play "Beast on the Moon" has won
numerous awards and was translated into 12 languages. But last August,
he was astounded to learn he earned a prestigious medal from Armenia.
"I knew the play would be successful," Kalinoski said. "But I never
expected the Armenian Medal. I’m still surprised I got the medal. I’m
surprised every day."
The Armenian Medal of Movses Khorenatsi is an Armenian honor for
outstanding contributions to the arts and culture of the country.
President Robert Kocharian sent a medal and decree to the Armenian
embassy in Washington to give to Kalinoski.
"Beast on the Moon" is about a mail-order bride who comes to Milwaukee
in 1921 to begin a life with her new husband. They both are tormented,
however, by the Armenian genocide.
Kalinoski came up with the idea for the play after he married an
Armenian-American woman in the early 1970s. He learned of the tragedy
and wanted to write about it.
The play has garnered much success, but it would be a production in
Russia that would win Kalinoski the Armenian Medal. The play caught
the attention of the Armenian first lady when she accompanied the
Russian first lady to a performance.
The play was chosen for the Humana Festival in March 1995 and won five
Moliere awards, including Best Play from the Repertory, in May 2001.
In November 2004, Kalinoski’s play became part of the repertory of
the Moscow Arts Theatre. "Beast on the Moon" opened Off-Broadway
at The Century Center Theatre in Manhattan in April 2005 and ran
120 performances.
Professor Merlaine Angwall, a fellow theater professor and friend of
Kalinoski, has had the opportunity to direct the play. She said it is
"great, touching, moving and well-crafted."
Angwall also described Kalinoski as witty and fun to be around.
"Kalinoski drives funky cars," she said. He used to drive a Porsche,
but now he drives a Mini Cooper.
Student Maria Bartholdi, a senior who has been a part of a few
Kalinoski plays, agreed with Angwall. She said Kalinoski is very
encouraging, helpful and unique, and gives a lot of creative freedom
to the students.
"All the students love doing impressions of Richard," Bartholdi said.
"We do it because we like him so much."
The success of the play has granted Kalinoski new opportunities,
including the level of talent he is able to work with. "One guy who
was the male lead for one of the productions had to leave for about
a month because Steven Spielberg came to him and asked him to be in
his movie ‘Munich,’" he said.
The future seems bright and busy for Kalinoski. "A Crooked Man"
will be presented at the Fredric March Theatre in February 2007,
and he is working on another play called "The Thousand Pound Marriage."