The International Voices Project Announces Line Up for Fourth Annual Series

Playwrights from Switzerland, France, Canada, Egypt, Austria, Brazil, Italy, and Wales are all represented in the 4th annual International Voices Project (IVP 2013), running from March 7 to March 17 at Victory Gardens Theater 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 theater scene.

Presented in collaboration with each country's consulate general and/or cultural institution, the International Voices Project will celebrate the voices of international playwrights with eight premiere concert-style readings. Each play is performed by a professional cast with stage directions read aloud to allow audience members' 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 country's represented cultural partner.

"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 these 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 Executive Director Patrizia Acerra.

IVP 2013 is a collaboration among the Consulate of Egypt Chicago, Instituto Cervantes Chicago, The Alliance Franciase de Chicago, Cultural Service at the Consulate General of France in Chicago, Trap Door Theatre, Sideshow Theatre, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, Vitalist Theatre, Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago,The Quebec Government Office in Chicago, The Consulate-General of Brazil in Chicago, The Chicago Theatre Sweatshop, Austrian Consulate General Chicago, and The Swiss Benevolent Society and Victory Gardens' Access Program.

The 2013 IVP staff also includes General Manager Jonathan Heuring, Literary Consultant Antje Oegel and Resident Dramaturg Sarah Grant.

Schedule

Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m.: From Switzerland, IVP presents Dog Paddle by Reto Finger, translated by Lily Skyes, presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago, the Swiss Benevolent Society of Chicago and Sideshow Theatre, and directed by Jonathan Green.

Friday, March 8^th, at 7:30 p.m.: The Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago hosts the reading of Noise in the Water by Marco Martinelli, translated by Thomas Simpson, and directed by Paola Coletto.

Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m:, The play Symptômes, written by French playwright Gabriella Maione, will be presented through a collaboration among the Cultural Service at the Consulate General of France in Chicago, The Alliance Française de Chicago, and Trap Door Theatre, directed by Beata Pilch.

Sunday, March 10th at 7:30 p.m.: Egypt will be represented by the play In Search of Said Abul-Naga, written by Ahmed Hasan Al-Banna, translated by Mohammed Albakry and Rebekah Maggor, directed by Hassan Amejal, and in collaboration with the Consulate of Egypt Chicago.

Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.: The Midwest premiere of acclaimed Canadian playwright Carol Frechette's The Room at the Top of the Stairs, directed by Elizabeth Carlin Metz, will be performed in collaboration with the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, The Quebec Government Office in Chicago, The Alliance Française de Chicago and Vitalist Theatre.

Friday March 15 at 7:30 p.m.: The Austrian Consulate General Chicago hosts the reading of Hamlet is Dead by Ewald Palmetshofer, in a translation by Neil Blackadder, and directed by Anna C. Bahow.