"Komitas" the Play

By LILIT AZARIAN
Lilitaz@ucla.edu

It is difficult to find an Armenian who has never heard the name of Komitas Vartabed. We have all heard his tunes. His songs bring joy to our hearts. His melodies inspire us. Many regard him as the founder of Armenian classical music. He led an extraordinary life filled with many successes, but also many tragedies.

Yet, despite his many accomplishments and great fame, many Armenians know very little about him and the name Komitas Vartabed is virtually unknown to non-Armenians.
Playwrights Lilly Thomassian and Lory Tatoulian believe it is time for the world to discover this great man and to fall in love with the legend and his music. Yet, rather than presenting a mere chronological biography, the award winning author of “Let the Rocks Speak” and the actress/comedian set out to capture the essence of a great man in a manner befitting an iconic artist.

“We wrote this play to bring Komitas to life by exploring his beliefs, his hopes and his dreams but most importantly, his music. The infusion of music in the play is vital and will bring the story to another level,” Thomassian explains.
Komitas was a fascinating and complex character. He was a priest, an artist, a musicologist, a conductor, a teacher, a comedian, a singer, a man in love, a revolutionary, a purist, a mad man… who became a symbol of the Armenian suffering of the 1915 genocide. A man ahead of his time who strived to improve and perfect his art, his innovative ideas were often condemned by the Church. He was a revolutionary, but also a purist who dedicated his entire life to research and to preserve genuine Armenian music. Indeed, his life combines the two aspects of the Armenian state of mind: suffering and art.

The duo plan to produce this compelling story on a professional stage for six weeks next spring in Los Angeles, with a prospect of eventually touring other US cities, in a manner that is intriguing and cutting edge.

However, the project is far from complete. With a $40,000 budget, there is much work to be done to ensure that the vision of these two artists is realized. Bringing this play to the stage requires the aid of the Armenian community.

Thomassian urges: “If you love the theater, if you think this project is worth pursuing, if you want to be a part of this unique undertaking, then please support us. We need all the help we can get. We need sponsors, promoters, supporters at any level,”as the story of Komitas is not the story of only one man but the story of all Armenians. By honoring his memory we honor the memory of all our ancestors.
There are countless films and productions based upon the lives of important figures like Mozart and Beethoven etc. This is our chance to tell the story of this amazing Armenian icon. For those interested in contributing to the project, the duo has set up a raffle to be held on October 22, 2010.

With tickets at only $5, participants can not only help out a great cause, but also enter to win great prizes. Grand prizes are as follows: 1st Prize: Two nights at Five Diamond Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena. 2nd Prize: Flat screen TV. 3rd Prize: Watercolor portrait painted by artist, Oshin. Here is an opportunity to make a small contribution go a long way.

You can purchase raffle tickets at itsmyseat.com//events/843874.html OR you can send a check payable to Armenian Cultural Movement to: Komitas Project 713 W. Dryden Glendale CA 91202. For more info., you can also join the Facebook group “Komitas: The Play.”