Arts Reporting: John Malkovich Will Deliver 2012 Theatre Day Message, reportsTCG Circle

From TCGcircle.org, February 21:

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre and home of the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute (ITI-US), invites all theatres, individual artists, institutions and audiences to celebrate the 50^th annual World Theatre Day on March 27, 2012. Each year, a renowned theatre artist of world stature is invited by ITI Worldwide in Paris to craft an international message to mark the global occasion. This year the message will be written by award-winning actor, director and producer John Malkovich. Upon its release in March, the message will be translated into more than 20 languages to reach tens of thousands in the international theatre community.

Through World Theatre Day 2012, TCG/ITI-US will celebrate the power of theatre to strengthen cultural exchange and mutual understanding across borders. There are many ways to join this celebration, including:

• Generation Without Borders, a call for early-to-mid career theatre practitioners and students to submit essays envisioning our global theatre movement 50 years from now (http://www.tcg.org/international/essay.cfm);

• SHINSAI: Theaters for Japan, a nationwide fundraising event on March 11, the first anniversary of the earthquakes, involving more than 50 theatres to raise relief funds for the Japanese theatre community affected by the disaster (http://www.tcg.org/shinsai/);

• I AM THEATRE, an online platform for theatre people across the world to share their stories and express the diversity and vitality of the international theatre community (http://www.tcg.org/international/iamtheatre.cfm);

• An interactive world map to track the growing number of World Theatre Day 2012 activities (http://www.tcg.org/international/events/wtd.cfm).

[ . . . .] On March 22, 2012, John Malkovich will deliver his international message at UNESCO in Parisat a gala event that will include readings of play excerpts with Malkovich and other theatre artists. The message will be available on the TCG website in March at http://www.tcg.org/international/events/wtd.cfm.

Read more at www.tcgcircle.org . . . .

World Theatre Day 2011 Message by Jessica Kaahwa, March 2

Thanks to @travisbedard, from the World Theatre Day 2011 blog:

World Theatre Day

The World Theatre Day Message 2011

The author of this year’s #WTD11 message is Jessica A. Kaahwa. This is meant to be read prior to curtain in the theatre on or around March 27, 2011.

A Case for Theatre in Service of Humanity

Jessica A. Kaahwa, Uganda

Today’s gathering is a true reflection of the immense potential of theatre to mobilize communities and bridge the divides.

Have you ever imagined that theatre could be a powerful tool for peace and reconciliation? While nations spend colossal sums of money on peace-keeping missions in violent conflict areas of the world, little attention is given to theatre as a one-on-one alternative for conflict transformation and management. How can the citizens of mother-earth achieve universal peace when the instruments employed come from outside and seemingly repressive powers?

Theatre subtly permeates the human soul gripped by fear and suspicion, by altering the image of self – and opening a world of alternatives for the individual and hence the community. It can give meaning to daily realities while forestalling an uncertain future. It can engage in the politics of peoples’ situations in simple straightforward ways. Because it is inclusive, theatre can present an experience capable of transcending previously held misconceptions.

Additionally, theatre is a proven means of advocating and advancing ideas that we collectively hold and are willing to fight for when violated.

To anticipate a peaceful future, we must begin by using peaceful means that seek to understand, respect and recognize the contributions of every human being in the enterprise of harnessing peace. Theatre is that universal language by which we can advance messages of peace and reconciliation.

By actively engaging participants, theatre can bring many-a-soul to deconstruct previously held perceptions, and, in this way, gives an individual the chance of rebirth in order to make choices based on rediscovered knowledge and reality. For theatre to thrive, among other art forms, we must take the bold step forward by incorporating it into daily life, dealing with critical issues of conflict and peace.

In pursuance of social transformation and reformation of communities, theatre already exists in war-torn areas and among populations suffering from chronic poverty or disease. There are a growing number of success stories where theatre has been able to mobilize publics to build awareness and to assist post-war trauma victims. Cultural platforms such as the “International Theatre Institute” which aims at “consolidating peace and friendship between peoples” are already in place.

Click to read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .