AIWA TO PRESENT READING FROM NEW PLAY, ‘WOMEN OF ARARAT’

March 14, 2013

BOSTON-For its annual commemoration of Women’s History Month in March,
the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) will present
a dramatic reading from a new play, “Women of Ararat.”

Judith Boyajian Strang-Waldau A drama set between 1965 and 1975,
“Women of Ararat” relates the stories of a multi-generational family
of Armenian women who survived the Armenian Genocide, came to America,
and live outside of Boston.

“Although sad in content, the play is also humorous and lighthearted
in the way the ‘Women’ relate to one another,” said playwright Judith
Boyajian Strang-Waldau.

Written to commemorate the genocide’s upcoming 100th anniversary
in 2015, the play is designed to educate those who may not know of
this period in history, and also to make viewers more mindful and
responsive to those around the globe who are or have been victims of
political injustice.

The story is based on the author’s family history and spotlights the
multiple effects of the Armenian Genocide on its survivors, children,
and grandchildren living in the United States.

The reading, to be followed by a discussion, will take place on Sun.,
March 24, at 3 p.m. at the Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF) in
Arlington. The talented cast includes Nancy Tutunjian Berger, June
Murphy Katz, Judy Davis, Jennifer Guzelian Flanagan, Joy Renjilian
Burgy, and Sofie Refojo.

“Recently we’ve seen a number of Armenian women authors who have
written dramas about various aspects of the Armenian Genocide and its
aftermath,” said Barbara Merguerian, the director of AIWA’s Archives
and Women’s Information Center, the sponsor of the reading. She cited
Joyce Van Dyke’s “Deported/a dream play,” Adriana Sevahn Nichols’s
“Night over Erzinga,” and Bianca Bagatourian’s “March,” among others.

“Drama provides unique perspectives for exploring the many facets of
genocide, and has the potential to reach large audiences who might
not otherwise be receptive,” she observed.

“Women of Ararat” is the first play by Judith Boyajian Strang-Waldau.

The recipient of degrees in piano and vocal performance, as well as
in arts management, she has served in the marketing and development
departments of the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Circle in
the Square Theatre in New York, Olympia Dukakis’s Whole Theatre in
Montclair, N.J., and most recently the New England Conservatory. With a
studio of 40 piano and voice students, Strang-Waldau currently chairs
the Harvard Musical Association’s High School Achievement Awards
scholarship program. She has one daughter, Victoria, and lives in
Sherborn with her husband Paul, dogs Rosie and Atticus Finch, and
her cat Pavlova.

The reading of “Women of Ararat” is free and open to the public. For
more information about the play or about AIWA’s programs to increase
the visibility of Armenian women, call (617) 926-0171, e-mail
aiwainc@aol.com, or visit www.aiwa international.org.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress