Playwright to attend opening performance of “Beast on the Moon”

Playwright Richard Kalinoski will be presented with the inaugural Humanities Award by Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives during the opening performance of his play “Beast on the Moon” Thursday, Feb. 12. Kalinoski will also conduct a post-show discussion with performers and the audience.

Presented by the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, “Beast on the Moon” will run Feb. 12-15 at the Casino Theatre. Show times are 8 p.m. Feb. 12-14 and 2 p.m. Feb. 14-15. For ticket information or reservations, call the box office at (401) 341-2250 or visit tinyurl.com/salvecasino.

“Beast on the Moon” follows the story of 19-year-old Aram Tomasian and his 15-year-old mail-order bride Seta, both recent immigrants and survivors of the Armenian genocide, as they try to create a new life for themselves in America after the tragic murder of their families. Theirs is a universal story of hope, healing, redemption, and ultimately, love.

The play implements a key photograph from Project SAVE’s archives to explore the emotional complexities faced by survivors of the Armenian genocide, committed by Ottoman Turks under cover of World War I. Since its first production in 1995, the play has won major national awards in several countries including France, Argentina and the United States.

“Having Mr. Kalinoski visit Salve and attend our opening night performance is surreal and an incredible honor,” said Reggie Phoenix, associate professor and director of the production. “We’ve worked to bring the play to life in a way that honors his beautiful and sensitive script. Our student actors are some of the best actors I’ve known and I think that having Mr. Kalinoski agree to come see their work is an enormous validation of their work and artistry.”