JOYCE VAN DYKE
Playwright
“Red Chairs” by Liz Shepherd, archival inkjet print, 2007
Coming soon to Los Angeles . . .
A new kind of play about the Armenian-American story, inspired by two women -Varter Nazarian Deranian and Elmas Sarajian Boyajian- fusing dreams, memory, storytelling, music and dance,carrying us into the future and celebrating the endurance of the human spirit.
In the words of one Boston audience member: “Personally, I know that I am now a changed person in relation to the
Armenian people. Even though I have known my Armenian
friends for nearly 20 years, it was my emotional experiencing of [Daybreak] that . . . brought my heart to be in closer connection
to my Armenian friends and to everyone else in that audience." (Psychologist Patricia Giannotti)
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the upcoming Los Angeles production of Daybreak through PayPal . . .
"enchanting and thought-provoking" (Boston Globe) "superb" (Theatre Mirror)
"powerful" (Anthony Monaco, President, Tufts University) "extraordinary" (Taner Akçam, Clark University)
"shines light into the darkest corners of the human heart, and by doing so, helps heal the deepest wounds" (Massachusetts State Senator William Brownsberger)
* Produced in a sold-out Boston production (under its previous title, Deported / a dream play) *
* Recipient of a 2012 award from the Massachusetts State Legislature (video) *
* Supported by the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) and the Knights & Daughters of Vartan *
* Produced at Tufts University (2015) *
* Staged readings in New York, London, Yerevan, and multiple venues in the U.S. *
* Translated into Armenian, funded by the Armenian Ministry of Culture (2015) *
* Featuring Armenian music and dance *
Why donate?
Like most theatre productions, this is a non-profit production. DAYBREAK is being produced by independent Los Angeles theatre producers, Gary Guidinger and Linda Toliver, with professional artists: actors, director, and designers. Expenses including theatre rental and artist fees need to be raised in advance of production. Ticket sales cover only a small portion of any production's costs, even if it the entire production sells out. Your support can enhance many aspects of the production, including helping to provide authentic costumes, Armenian choreography, and marketing efforts to reach the widest possible public.
Where does the money go?
Your donation to the Los Angeles production of DAYBREAK is fully tax-deductible. It goes to the Kharpert Cultural Association of America, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) organization and the fiscal sponsor for the Los Angeles production of DAYBREAK. Your donation is placed in a special account exclusively for the DAYBREAK production, and will be disbursed only to pay production expenses. Questions?
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the upcoming Los Angeles production of Daybreak through PayPal . . .
From where we were . . .
Varter, one of the main characters in Daybreak, in 1900 when she married
at age 14.
. . . to where we are.
Women demonstrators with Armenian flag, Yerevan
Anna Eshoo, Assyrian-Armenian-
American Congresswoman
(California, 14th District)
Figen Yuksekdağ, Co-chair,
Peoples' Democratic Party of Turkey.
Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer of New South Wales, Australia